Narcissa Malfoy was woken up by her favourite elf, Pixie. She had little pixie ears compared to the other elves. She brought news and fresh towels with her. News that there were guests at the Manor. Guests Narcissa had no wish to see in her home. Two auror girls, Potter's mud … muggle-born Granger, and that Brown girl that had been attacked by Greyback. She had nothing against the women personally, but having two aurors invade your home in the middle of the night, and stay over to talk to her in the morning, was surely not a good sign. She was by the dining room door at six thirty sharp as always, and had a comity.
"Mother …"

"Guests I know. What do they want?"

"Talk to you about …"

"My brother-in-law maybe?"

"Yes."

"All right I expect to not be disturbed until I've finished my breakfast though."

"Of course. I've let them in already."

"Quite right dear."

She entered her dining room. At the large wooden table sat a tamed-haired Granger, which was by far better than before, an horribly disfigured Brown, and Blaise, all three quietly talking over breakfast. They acknowledged her in a polite salute and the Granger girl even added:

"We're very sorry to invade your home this way Mrs Malfoy, but this is urgent matter."

"It's all right. These are quite urgent times indeed. I expect you'll wait until I've eaten before questioning."

"Of course. This is not questioning though. You're not suspected of anything Mrs Malfoy."

"This is a relief. Blaise dear are you feeling any better?"

She didn't seemed relieved at all, actually she didn't seem to feel anything, and she'd cut the matter with that question. Zabini suddenly seemed very uncomfortable.

"Err yes ? I guess a bit better Cissa."

"Good." Mrs Malfoy nodded sharply and the silence that followed felt heavy and awkward. Malfoy sat to his mother's right and they all ate quietly.

Hermione and Lavender had been woken up by a dirty looking elf that had pretty much shoved them off of the bed after only four hours of sleep. Malfoy must have sent the elf Hermione thought. That git couldn't do something kind without correcting it afterwards. Hermione hadn't had time to have nightmares though, which was a relief, but she still felt as exhausted as if she'd not slept at all, and Lavender seemed in no better shape. Zabini looked positively miserable, Hermione guessed grief had finally taken him over shock. It was going to be a horrific day. She'd have to go back to Azkaban right after, and the dementors wouldn't help with her mood.

They were only half through breakfast, when as a lion patronus ran in the room, his path followed by silver dust that faded after a second. Kingsley. Urgency took both Hermione and Lavender. Kingsley knew where they were, and sending his patronus meant something had happened, something sufficiently important for him to tell them the matter in front of the Malfoys and Zabini. Reflex took both aurors and they stood, wand at the ready.

"Granger, Brown, muggle born family slaughtered London. Creevey, Longbottom, Weasley on the case. Contained. Need both of you Azkaban before ten. Thomas, Potter need relay."

Hermione couldn't help but cursing quietly. Lavender didn't bother with being polite.

"Those fucking pieces of scum! Same shit as under Voldemort's bloody …" At that name both Malfoys flinched slightly. Zabini was unmoved though and Hermione knew she'd been right, they could trust him.

"Lavender!" The blonde looked at Hermione and frowned but calmed down anyway.

"I'm sorry. It's just …"

"I know." She nodded in response and sat back down, Hermione followed and looked at her hosts.

"I'm sorry, Kingsley sends those only when this is an emergency."

"It's quite all right. You have a job to do. Let's go to the lounge to talk, I'll finish breakfast later." Narcissa Malfoy was … graceful Hermione guessed. That woman was as cold as ice and still managed to look perfect, even after such news. Maybe she just didn't care. She certainly didn't care, only muggle-borns were concerned after all.

Draco walked behind the three women warily, Blaise at his side. His mother was a bit dishevelled, not that anyone else could see it though. Shakelbolt's patronus talking in front of them had meant a lot. First that he trusted them, which had never been a certitude until this very moment, and second that things were far worse than they had all thought. If the Lestranges were already slaughtering muggle and muggle-borns it meant that they probably had recruited people. It would be so much more difficult to catch the lot if they started bringing dead people back and building a fucking army. This was Hell.

They all sat in the lounge, Brown looked positively murderous to have to switch rooms and wait for tea, before being permitted to ask her questions, but his mother didn't seem to notice. Or maybe she was trying to unnerve her on purpose for disturbing her little routine. Yes, she always needed to be in control.

"Where would Rodolphus go straight after escaping?" Brown was no one to mess around apparently and Draco couldn't help but notice that Blaise seemed yet again fascinated. His mother wasn't pleased with Brown's abrupt manners and when she didn't answer right away Brown continued:

"Mrs Malfoy we have no time to waste, please answer the questions with whatever comes to mind."

"Here." She finally said, this time everyone in the room could see that she was affected by everything that was happening.

"He can't though, where else?"

"I … All possible places have been demolished after the war … Except Borgin and Burke."

"We checked there, nothing."

"Oh, then … Here."

"Mrs Malfoy …"

"No you don't get it. My husband offered his home to the Dark Lord."

"Yes but you are on our side it's all over the news …"

"That doesn't matter to them miss. Even more so, I'm a traitor now and I have no say whatsoever. I was not a death eater. My husband is still alive, his decision is still of actuality for them. I know for a fact that they tried to come here just before Mrs Zabini …"

"How?"

"The wards. They were attacked. Of course they remained unmoved."

"Do you think they might try again?"

"I'm sure they will and I am positive this is exactly why my son had invited Blaise to come over in the first place."

Draco nodded in confirmation to Brown. Granger was scribbling in a muggle notebook furiously, her brows practically touching. She lifted her head to his mother.

"So you've got no idea where they might have gone?"

"Not at all. All places have been demolished or seized by the ministry."

Brown growled in frustration as apparently she couldn't contain herself any more. Granger remained calm but didn't even attempt to soothe the other woman, she seemed lost in her notebook. She eventually lifted again her almost blond head to his mother, so deep in thoughts that Draco could no longer see the usual determination in her brown eyes.

"I reckon you have a large family library here Mrs Malfoy?" Such a fucking bookworm.

"I do."

"Now's not the time to read bedtime stories Granger." The words escaped Draco's mouth on their own volition. Damn, he'd said he'd be civil. What was it with the little woman that he couldn't just shut his mouth? She ignored him completely but Brown didn't. She stood fast and took a few steps, bowing to be level to his face, looking at him straight in his eyes.

"I'm warning you Malfoy. You'll play civil or I won't have to lie you know, people will think you attacked us first." Draco gulped, she was mad, but he was not about to cower.

"Don't you dare threaten me in my own house Brown I won't tolerate …"

"I'll arrest you then. You will stop being aggressive to our best auror. Or I will have to report your behaviour as uncooperative. This is not a game and …"

"Lavender that's quite enough. I don't expect anyone here to be civil with me and I actually don't care whether they are or not. We have better things to do than help Mr Malfoy here relieve his nerves." Granger cut, looking determined again and she didn't even spare him a look. Draco was fuming at Brown, but kept his mouth shut, to Blaise's great amusement.

"You're right. What were you saying about the library?" Said Brown.

"I was about to ask Mrs Malfoy if they had, which I think they do, some kind of register of ancient pure-blooded residences?"

"We must yes, but I haven't consulted those documents in ages …"

"If you'll lead me there I'll sure find them. I just have something to do first."

Hermione was in a brainstorming motion. Those documents could help. But she had a gut feeling there was way more to do. She was sick of just waiting in a corner for things to happen because they had no idea where to set foot. They needed to attack. They needed to be ahead of the enemy to win. That's how they had killed Voldemort. By being ahead of him. Work in the shadows and be sure to have a shot at wining once confrontation occurred. She sent her patronus to Kingsley and Harry from the corridor, exposing an idea. They'd talk it out in Azkaban. She then returned to the lounge.

"Lavender we have two hours to go through that library."

"Follow me." Mrs Malfoy led them several staircases and corridors away from the lounge. Hermione was completely lost. This horrid place was a maze. They entered a library that rivalled Hogwarts' in size. They were never going to find anything there.

"There's an index over there." Said Mrs Malfoy, indicating an entire alley before leaving. Malfoy and Zabini hadn't followed and they were left alone.

"Godric this is going to be tremendous!" Lavender seemed nonetheless determined after this statement. The index was a small library itself. This would indeed be a large pain in the arse.

"A trap?" Asked Dean.

"Well I guess this is the best option we've got. She's right. And if she finds anything in that library we might be able to retrieve the stone on one hand and trap those mother-fuckers on the other." Harry liked Hermione's idea. They needed a plan. Not that any of their plans actually worked. Kingsley seemed reluctant:

"So they'd just lower suspiciously the wards of the Manor and wait? Lestrange is not that stupid. We need a bait." They looked at each other.

"Zabini." Said their two voices in unison.

"She's so bloody smart." Harry couldn't believe she thought about everything. Then he remembered their seventh year.

"Indeed. But we need to think this through, they're already attacking innocents we can't fail Harry."

"I know. Dean would you call Ron and tell them to be over quickly? Can't we put Creevey on surveillance while we talk this through?"

"I don't see why not if we're all here too." Answered Kingsley.

"Shall we call the order?" Asked Dean.

"Only once we have a plan. We'll see who'll be needed. Maybe send just a warning to Minerva? She owled me twice already." Said Kingsley.

"I'm on it, I'll send something to Arthur too, just in case."

"Right."

Draco was patiently waiting in the lounge with Blaise since his mother had left to the library with the two Gryffindors. Blaise was all fidgety and looked like he wanted to say something. After a moment Draco couldn't take it any longer.

"What Blaise? Spit it already." Which was exactly what he did.

"Did your parents kill one of Granger's friend? Or tortured or something?"

"Wh … no! Well, maybe my father did during battle … I don't really know actually … Why?"

"Err, I've been eavesdropping a bit." Blaise didn't look guilty at all.

"Oh and what did you hear?"

"Nothing that really makes sense, they were whispering. But Granger was clearly upset and I heard your parents name, among cruciatus and mudblood talk …" Draco sighed. He had no wish whatsoever to yet again be remembered about that. He'd already had a sufficiently traumatising reminder the day before.

"Spit it out mate." Apparently he would have to.

"All right but I never want to hear anything about it again." Draco warned.

"Fair enough go on."

"My dear aunt Bellatrix tortured Granger in our drawing room. And well … my parents and I had to watch."

"Shit mate." Blaise looked positively disturbed. "When?"

"During seventh year … they got snatched but they escaped."

"Oh I heard about that! There was severe consequences if I'm not mistaken."

"Yes I got a pretty bad amount of scarring after that." Draco winced, rubbing his right shoulder.

"Shit. Well this was war I guess … She didn't seem hugely upset about it though did she?" Blaise tried to minimize. He couldn't be more wrong.

"Well she was … I didn't think mate …"

"What did you do?"

"I apparated in that room … she snapped, I thought she was going to faint. Mate, she scratched her scar so bad …" Blaise gave him confused face.

"What scar?"

"Err Bellatrix carved, well, mudblood, with a cursed blade on her forearm."

"Salazar's …You made them stay here …" Now Blaise looked positively shocked.

"I know. I'm such a …"

"Git? Yes. Go take them back we'll look through the register ourselves."

"Right."

Hermione and Lavender had spent the first hour in Malfoy's library gathering every potentially useful book they could find on the register. Which had meant none other than two books and they had perused only maybe a twentieth of it.

"This is never ending! We'll have to come back!" Lavender was slowly loosing her patience.

"I know. We're loosing time right now we should just drop the matter for today and relay Harry and Dean …"

"You're right, we'll read those on surveillance, did you take your beaded bag?" Hermione gave her a bitter laugh.

"I did, but we can't retrieve the books Lavender, they're charmed."

"Everything to piss me off then eh? All right let's go."

"Actually I may be able to help." Hermione startled and pretty much threatened the intruder with sparks. Lavender was no better.

"A bit on edge maybe? Lower those wands please." Malfoy looked more amused than irritated but Hermione had no time to loose on the git, especially since he didn't seem to be able to be civil.

"Can you take us back to the ministry Malfoy?"

"I said I could help. I can alter the charms on the books you want to read, and I remember huge cartography scrolls about England and Wales' pure-blooded estates that might be helpful." He was looking calmly at Hermione, perfectly civil, with no trace of smirking or sarcasm on his face. Was that his twisted way to apologize? No way in hell could the git apologize. He was just trying to be rid of them quicker. Or maybe he had realised they would work faster together. Nope, not possible either. Hermione didn't know what was taking the blond but it was welcome anyway. She looked at him expectantly, not willing to neither say please or thank him. There! A smirk! He didn't move the bloody bastard! It was like he knew exactly why she wasn't opening her mouth and waited for her to speak polite.

"We haven't got all day Malfoy …" She finally said. He sighed before answering as if the words were hurting him.

"I know, that's why Blaise offered to look through the library after I've taken you back. I'll help him as soon as I can, we'll keep you posted."

"Oh, thank …" She bit her lip, the git smiled. "Him." she added a bit too late.

"I sure will." He said smirking his mouth out. "Follow me." He led towards an alley of the gigantic library and retrieved two very large and long scrolls from a shelf, pointed his wand at them, and made a few complicated switches before handing them to Hermione.

"Here. If you find them useful let me know, I'll tell Blaise to look through the rest of them." She nodded her thanks, she had already voiced it too much to her liking, but she couldn't help being impressed by the charms that guarded the books safely. They were really advanced magic, the kind she could barely perform.

"Those books must be really precious to your family." She simply stated.

"They are. Be careful with them of I'll suffer my mother's wrath." He answered quite seriously. Hermione felt like she finally had the upper hand and gave him a smirk that could rival his own.

"I sure will." She echoed and he looked suspiciously at her. Before he could say anything though, Lavender handed him the two books they'd found and he repeated his wand movements before giving them back to her.

"All right, let's go then." Lavender said, giving the books to Hermione. Retrieving her beaded bag, Hermione pretended to shove them roughly in it. Pretended, she wasn't about to actually damage old books just to get back at Malfoy. He flinched but eyed her bag with interest. He didn't ask though, maybe too proud to. Both Gryffindors took his arms and they apparated to the ministry's entrance hall. Malfoy didn't say anything but searched something through his pockets while Lavender was taking out her own Portkey. He took out a rather normal looking piece of parchment and handed it to her.

"I'll charm it." He said. "Write anything on it and it'll appear on the half I'll take, you'll be the only one able to read it. Safer than constantly apparating in and out of Azkaban. You need to touch it while I perform the charm so it works."

"Oh." Very clever she thought. She touched the blank small piece of parchment as he kept an end of it in his hand. He then performed such a complex charm that Hermione didn't follow. Malfoy was quite impressive. She wondered where he'd learnt such magic. Of course she didn't voice that, the git was pretentious enough already, no need to boost his ego. She had to bite her lip. He then snatched back the parchment from her and torn it in two pieces, handing her one.

"Here." She nodded and took out her beaded bag from her cloak's pocket to put the parchment in. He eyed it curiously again before finally starting to the lift without further talk. Lavender was looking slightly impressed herself, and while she pointed her wand at her own Portkey Hermione couldn't help it, before Malfoy got out of earshot she said:

"Undetected extension charm and a weightless one, used it all through seventh year." She had time to see his amazement before Lavender and her were tucked by their belly buttons. Here, right back at him. However, Hermione's good mood got altered the moment they apparated at Azkaban. The air was heavy and while Lavender was performing her patronus, Hermione felt a block. Her childhood memories no longer worked since the war, and she would not think about them. All she had left was a couple of Hogwarts memories. Everything had turned bitter with time, and every memory was tinted with regret and melancholy. Breathing slowly and trying to calm her newly irritated nerves, she scanned through her memories. She couldn't remember the last time she'd been truly happy. Even Ron related memories were bitter. Shit. She was never going to perform a patronus if she kept thinking too much. Lavender's wolf ran quickly around her and the other witch looked at her:

"Come on Hermione you can do it." Yes, she could. Oh! It was not a happy memory per say but it would work just fine. The day Hermione had trapped Rita Skeeter in a jar. That would do, she'd felt so proud and smart, she'd skipped redoing her homework and had hummed happily all day.

"Espero patronum." Her otter appeared and happily followed Lavender's wolf before settling on her shoulder. It was still a little less bright than it used to be, but it would have to do.

Harry collapsed on one of the tiny cots they used. Hermione and Lavender had arrived earlier than expected and it had been a relief. He couldn't take it any more. He'd slept what? Seven hours in four days? No, more? Less? Whatever. And Ginny! He hadn't called Ginny since the day before. He sat abruptly and sent her his patronus. Err, what a mistake. Now, with only Dean's patronus in the room, he felt like he was going to cry. Or faint. Or both. Stupid dementors. Always affecting him more than the others. He tried to focus on something else while he laid back on the cot. At least Hermione had looked determined and a bit more like herself than the day before. The news she'd brought had been somehow encouraging. She was going to read through the documents she'd brought, and while he doubted Zabini would be as effective as she in a library, things were still moving a bit. Yes, they were. With that positive thought, tinted with quick flashbacks he shoved away, trying to use occlumency, and failing miserably as always, he slowly drifted to sleep.

He woke up feeling well rested, and that scared him so much that he jumped out of the cot, that fell to its side with a large thud. Neville, Ron, Dean, Lavender, Hermione and Kingsley were all looking at him with half smiles, all gathered around the table, papers poking in every direction.

"Too much sleep to feel safe mate?" Said Ron. "We thought you needed it." Trying to calm his crazy heartbeat, Harry joined them at the table.

"Thanks."

Poor Harry, thought Hermione. He was a tired mess. Much worse than the rest of them. And that was saying something, even Neville looked completely worn. She'd exposed all she knew to the others, and her idea to set a trap while Harry had been asleep, and quietly dreaming. She and Ron knew he never slept perfectly well and they'd insisted Kingsley didn't wake him up. Now that everyone was there, the serious talk could start.

"All right." She said. "I'll sum up. We need to find the Lestranges' location. We need to keep Bellatrix under maximum security at all times. Once we have their location the, err plan is to set a trap and split our team in two. The first team will go retrieve the stone. The second will send hints on Zabini's location, and on his will to join. At the exact time Lestrange points his dirty nose to Malfoy Manor, we strike. On both locations. We need to work out details of course, but this is the general idea. They need Zabini's money, I'm sure they won't think twice if they hear he's ready to cooperate and waiting patiently to what they think is their home. They'll try and take both for sure, and won't come alone of course."

"All right Hermione, we all agreed that this is the best option we've got, Harry?" Asked Kingsley.

"Go on." Kingsley nodded before continuing:

"Right. The first step, before actually planing anything is to find their location. We need to go through Zabini's mind, he sure knows something. The Malfoy library has documents on the Zabini estate, keep with your idea Hermione. You need to work fast, they're attacking innocents already …"

"I know. If you don't mind I'll just go back to the Manor, Zabini won't be able to go through all that by himself and Malfoy's really busy …"

"Yes. Who …"

"I'll go too." Said Lavender. All the men around them looked awkwardly at the two women, suddenly willing to go back to the Manor. Lavender gave them all a glare, that made them all cower a bit. She then winked at Hermione. That girl really knew how to use her looks. Strange way to mirror her old self, Hermione thought.

"You guys work on the details while we …"

"As always." Said Neville.

"All right, Hermione warn Malfoy, there's a missive going with a guard in five minutes …"

"No need actually." She showed Kingsley the piece of parchment. "He charmed it so we can communicate."

"Oh, I don't trust those Hermione, anyone can read them …"

"Not this one, we had to touch it both for him to charm it. If I'm not mistaken only I and he can read it."

"Mm, interesting. Ask him." He said, looking sceptical, as were all the others, to Lavender's exception. Ron couldn't keep his mouth shut any longer apparently.

"Why would he give you that? It's probably trapped with that ink dad's been confiscating! Was his shop …"

"He charmed it right in front of me Ron …"

"Yeah well still I don't trust the git you shouldn't use that!" Ron seemed the only one questioning Malfoy's intentions, and Hermione remembered being quite on his side not so long ago. What had happened? Kingsley took the matters in hands before Ron could explode:

"Ronald I trust the git as you put it, so does Harry. That should be enough for you."

"Well she used not to trust him either and look! All willing to go back to the Manor and sharing bloody messages with …" That sting but Kingsley was quicker to cut him.

"Enough! If you have any personal resentments Ronald, I take it you'll deal with them out of work." That tone was not something anyone tried to argue. Ron seemed about to implode but he kept his mouth shut, as everyone else stayed silent, waiting for Hermione to write on the parchment. Ron was sending her an iced glare, she'd always been on his side before and guilt crept through her. Since they broke up they were floating in a strange friendship based on support, that kept them from arguing. She realised he must be really angry with her for not taking his back, and that he just didn't understand why she was not on his side about Malfoy. Did she trust the infuriating ferret?

"Hermione?" Kingsley's voice was expecting and she snapped out of her disturbing thoughts.

"Right." She took a quill and wrote:

- Can anyone else read this?

The ink settled on the parchment as if it didn't work. She handed it to Dean that was right to her left.

"I can't see anything there Mione." They waited a few minutes and as they were about to drop it, the letters disappeared from the parchment.

"The message's gone." She said, eyeing the paper intensely. A few seconds later an answer appeared.

- No one but you and I. I charmed it right under your nose remember?

The letters were perfectly neat and looped, as if it'd taken quite some time to write. Even his hand writing was pretentious. And of course he was mocking her. Why hadn't she backed Ron?

"It works." She said and Kingsley nodded, before unrolling the scroll Malfoy had given her earlier that day. She wasn't about to retaliate with the idiot and she decided to go straight to business.

- We need to consult your library again, when can you bring Lavender and I back?

His answer was quick.

- No need. Blaise's working faster than expected, he's got twelve documents ready. I can send a missive tonight.

They had just missed the missive, the next wasn't until nine pm, they'd have to go.

- Won't spend the evening waiting for it. Missive too late, we come with you tonight.

- As you wish. I go back there at six thirty sharp. With you or not.

"We're out at six fifteen Lavender." She said thinking how annoying the man sending her messages was. He could express venom through letters. As you wish. Last time he'd said that to her his tone had been deadly cold. But he was helping somehow wasn't he? His behaviour was quite contradictory, he went from mockery and rudeness to small civility and nice gestures. Maybe he really wanted to help but his hate for her was too strong for him to be polite? After all she'd hated him since she met him and she had actually never expected him to be civil. He'd accepted to be though, and said sorry, only to be rude again as soon as he had been able to. Whatever, she'd never understand the impressively self-absorbed wanker anyway. Why bother? Especially now that she had a concrete purpose. Find Lestranges' location. She got right back to work with the others, that scroll seemed promising.

Draco worked his arse out all day. The only break he took was when the parchment he'd charmed for Granger started to actually burn through his pockets. It was only supposed to get warm when he got a message, but he guessed the thing didn't appreciate being ignored. He grabbed a cup of coffee and sat at Potter's desk. He'd settled there because it was more practical to have the golden boy's files within hands reach. He kind of regretted it now, the weaslette's picture on the desk was making him faces, and the red and gold scarf pined to the wall made him gag. He finally retrieved the burning piece of annoying paper and looked at it.

Her handwriting was neat and small, so she could fit more words on a scroll he assumed, such a know-it-all.

- Can anyone else read this?

Was she that stupid? He had thought the supposedly brightest witch of their age would have picked up on that charm he had done. Oh, of course she had. She was just testing it, surely Kingsley or Saint Potter were watching. Too bad they couldn't read. He decided to pretend he thought she was stupid.

- No one but you and I. I charmed it right under your nose remember?

She ignored his mockery though and played civil. She was being the bigger person of course. Bloody Gryffindor.

- We need to consult your library again, when can you bring Lavender and I back?

Well, she didn't need to come back Blaise had been working all day. Plus if he could avoid her seeing ghosts again he would. Blaise had made it quite clear, Draco had acted like an inconsiderate idiot to the petite bossy woman and he'd spare her at least today's trip to the manor. Was he really being nice to the bushy … err, to her? No they just weren't children any more, old school rivalries had no place, and he'd done her wrong, he had to make it right somehow, whatever grudge he held against her. That didn't mean he'd have to be nice to her though.

- No need. Blaise's working faster than expected, he's got twelve documents ready. I can send a missive tonight.

Her answer made him cringe.

- Won't spend the whole evening waiting for it. Missive too late, we come with you tonight.

Of course she'd make things difficult. The last missive had just passed and the next one to Azkaban was at nine pm, if she wouldn't wait then so be it. She'd go to the manor again. What did he care after all?

- As you wish. I go back there at six thirty sharp. With or without you.

She didn't even bother answering him. Sighing he got back to work.

The rest of the afternoon passed quickly and six o'clock arrived faster that he'd planned, he wasn't done with the last report for the Irish minister, he'd have to bring work home. Sighing he scribbled furiously a few more sentences, and startled a bit when someone entered Potter's office without knocking.

"Don't know how to knock?" He asked quite abruptly, not bothering to look at the intruder and clearly not in the mood to be interrupted, he only had fifteen minutes left before he needed to leave.

"Well it's not your office now, is it?" Brown's voice was menacing. Both Gryffindor were watching him fiercely, Brown with a certain wildness in her eyes, Granger with a mix of annoyance and confusion. He decided to go without being aggressive, his will to just kick them out at its paroxysm.

"Well you're early now, aren't you?" He spat.

"Couldn't risk you going back without us." The ex bushy-haired stated.

"Fair enough. I'll be done shortly." He dismissed, snorting to himself thinking he was more likely to finish in his home office in the middle of the night. He lowered his head back to his scroll but still felt eyes on him. Weren't they going to wait outside? Of course not, noisy little …

"Gonna wait here?" He growled.

"Of course." Answered Brown, a plastered smile on her face, and sitting at the chair opposite his, clearly trying to irritate him. Granger stifled a laugh. Shit he had no time for this, especially if he wanted to actually sleep that night. He furiously went back to his parchment for the next ten minutes now.

Malfoy looked strange when he worked. Hermione didn't remember seeing him this taken by anything. She knew he'd always been a good student, his grades had always rivalled her own, without ever besting them though. He scribbled furiously down his parchment, his quill grating the paper with an irritating screeching noise. His almost white brows were furrowed to the middle of his face and his mouth was twisted in deep thinking.

It was just strange. Foreign. She'd never looked at him while he studied during school, actually she'd always avoided his sight, he always found a way to hurt or mock her. Here he was, looking so … concentrated. No that wasn't quite the word. She felt like she was seeing him for the first time in her entire life. The boy that had spent almost seven years tormenting her, now was a grown man, looking, as expected, perfectly put together, when she knew for a fact that he couldn't be. Not with the threat that was above their heads. Lavender thankfully had her back to her so she cocked her head to the side and watched him.

He was taller than before, and as lean as a seeker could be. He had quite broad shoulders but then he was quite tall so … His hair was shorter than it'd been before, she thought so but couldn't be sure, as it wasn't plastered at the back of his head any more. A purplish thin line of tiredness marked his upper cheeks and his grey eyes were folded as he followed the movement of his quill. He also looked less pointy than he did all those years ago. He actually had the jawline of a man now, as did Harry and Ron. They weren't children any more. The thin path of an unshaven beard on his chin and cheeks confirmed that. She smiled, Ron didn't need to shave too much yet. Maybe they weren't so much adults but old teenagers after all. Maybe they had all grown up too fast because of this horrific war that had taken so much from her. She looked at Lavender and knew that if it wasn't for this war, they wouldn't be in this position today. She wouldn't be an auror, Malfoy wouldn't work for the ministry, Lavender would certainly be a model for Witch Weekly and after terms Hermione would have happily gone back to … No she wasn't about to think about them. So what? They'd grown up too fast but what could they do about it? Accept their fate, and fight back. Even if it meant a lifetime of fighting. The least she could do to make it less painful though was to try and be civil with the man sitting in Harry's chair, as he seemed as hard working and as tired by things as they all were. They were on the same side now. They needed to find this bloody stone. They needed to arrest those madmen. They needed to work together.

Malfoy lifted his head at six thirty sharp, set as a clock. She pretended to be looking at his parchment, failing quite lamely, and a smirk invaded his face. He seemed about to speak but thought twice apparently because he shut his now opened mouth and cleared his throat before saying:

"Time, let's go."