Hermione woke the next morning as reluctant to get out of bed as she had been the previous day though thankfully she was hangover-free. She had set her alarm earlier than usual; determined to get to the office early and catch up on the work she hadn't finished yesterday.

The Ministry was blissfully quiet when she arrived: there was no-one to fall over in the fireplace, no waiting for the lift, and no interdepartmental memos whizzing around her head when she got into it. She was whistling happily as she entered her office and it wasn't until she shut the door behind her and turned to face her desk that she realised someone was sitting there, with their feet up on it.

"Morning Granger," Malfoy smirked at her, "have a lie in this morning did we?"

"Shut up Malfoy, and get your feet off my work. What do you want?"

Malfoy very slowly and very deliberately lifted one foot and placed it on top of the other, so that his legs were crossed and remained on Hermione's desk. "I came to talk to you about what your next move is for international tolerance for Muggle-borns. I know you've already worked with schools in France, Italy and Greece, so where next? I've got good contacts with the Zauber Institute, that's Germany-"

"Yes, thank you. I know where Zauber is, I'm already in contact with their Headmaster who isn't budging. He said the school has been open for centuries and a Muggle-born has never crossed the threshold and they don't intend to change that."

"Right. Well have you spoken to other members of staff? Their Ministry? You could get a petition enough wizards and witches sign it then their Wizengamot, Leutchten they're called over there, they have to at least consider changing the law."

Hermione crossed the room and was now standing next to Malfoy. She put her hands on her hips and looked down at him. "Firstly, my seat, out of it, now."

Surprisingly, he vacated her chair, and she immediately sat in it before he could change his mind. "Secondly," she continued as he perched himself on the edge of the desk, crumpling more parchment, "why do you even care? Honestly, this international tolerance is my area, my project. Why must you be involved in it? You want to work at the Ministry? Fine. You want to work in International Law? Fine. But please, tell me, why does it have to be on my task?"

"I have my reasons Granger, not that they are any of your business. You should just be happy that I'm here to help you, obviously you need it," he smirked at her again.

Hermione wished she could wipe the look off his face, permanently.

"And how, exactly, have you come to that conclusion?" she asked whilst tugging at the piece of parchment under his backside, wondering what Lucy would say if she knew Hermione's hands had been that close to the rear end she had admired the day before.

"Well, you can't even get Zauber to agree. How on earth will you manage the others? Durmstrang especially, they're all for purebloods."

"For your information, Malfoy-"

Malfoy didn't get to hear Hermione's retort, for at that moment, Duggen entered the room. His large body only just fitting through the doorframe, not only was he a tall man, he was also very wide. Hermione would have put his waist size down to being part-giant like Hagrid had she not seen the large lunches his wife packed him every day.

"Good morning troops!" he said in his deep, booming voice.

"What's good about it?" Hermione muttered under her breath.

"What was that Granger?" Duggen asked.

"I said good morning, Sir."

"All set for today? Malfoy was just telling me about his plans to help you with Zauber and then Durmstrang. He's got some good ideas."

"Oh yes, brilliant ones. I'm sure soon enough he'll be running this project single-handedly and before we know it all of the magical schools will be Purebloods only!" Hermione's voice began to rise.

"Actually, Granger. That's not my intention at all, at least not the Pureblood part. I reckon I could handle this on my own though."

"I knew it! I knew there was a reason you were here. Just come to take my job have you? You sleazy, horrible-"

"Hermione, Draco, that is enough!" Duggen was on the verge of shouting. His round face was turning red in anger. "Must I remind you both that this is a place of work? The Minister for Magic has informed me that he has already warned you both about childish behaviour. Don't let this happen again please. Now, we have a meeting straight after lunch, I would like the pair of you to update me on your plans for Zauber, and remember: play nicely."

He turned and squeezed back through the doorway, his auburn hair brushing the top of the frame, leaving it sticking up.

Draco turned to face Hermione grinning smugly. "Come on then, partner. Let's get to work."

Hermione groaned loudly but waved her wand conjuring a chair at her desk for Malfoy.

Much to Hermione's surprise, the morning went by fairly quickly. She and Malfoy discussed the work she had already done and she reluctantly showed him copies of her correspondence with Zauber's Headmaster. He told her what he had learned of their Ministry during his time there and together they made an action plan to present to Duggen in the afternoon.

All in all the morning would have been a success if it hadn't been for Malfoy's smirk, sarcasm and general criticising of Hermione's work. He chastised her for not writing her letters in German, for not writing directly to their Minister for Magic and repeatedly expressed his surprise that she had managed to convince three schools to change their policies on Muggle-borns.

When the time for their lunch break arrived, Hermione grabbed her bag and was out of the office before Malfoy had risen from his seat. She headed directly to Harry's office and, thankfully, found him alone.

"Hey, Hermione, how's it going?"

"Terrible," Hermione replied, plonking herself down in a seat opposite Harry.

"Of course, today was your first day with Malfoy. Is he as unbearable as always?"

"Worse. There's just something not right about this whole situation and I'm determined to find out what it is."

She proceeded to tell Harry about the argument she'd had with Malfoy in front of Duggen and their upcoming meeting. They spent the remainder of Hermione's lunch break reminiscing about times in school they had embarrassed or annoyed Draco, and both of them had tears in their eyes when Harry brought up Malfoy as a ferret. By the time she had to leave for her meeting, Hermione was feeling much better.

The meeting itself was fairly straightforward. Duggen was pleased with the progress Hermione and Malfoy had made in such a short time, and told them he thought they already made an excellent team.

"I agree, Granger definitely couldn't work as well without me," Malfoy replied.

"Oh shut up, ferret," Hermione retorted scathingly.

Duggen gave a heavy sigh which told them both that he was getting angry. They took it as their cue to leave and exited the office whispering insults to each other.

Hermione was able to spend the remainder of the day free of Malfoy. He had been very cryptic about what he was going to be doing for the rest of the afternoon but Hermione couldn't have cared less. She was just glad to be rid of him and busied herself writing to the German minister.

His whereabouts did not remain unknown for long, however. As Hermione was tidying her desk, preparing to head home, Harry peered his head around her door.

"Good, you're still here. Can I come in?"

"Of course. What's up?"

"You'll never guess who came to my office today asking for my help," Harry said, closing the door behind him.

"Who?" Hermione asked curiously, not expecting the answer Harry was about to give.

"Malfoy."

Hermione's jaw dropped. "Oh for goodness sake, why on earth would he want your help? It's not like you would do it."

"Actually," Harry said, "I am."

"What?! Why?! This is the same Draco Malfoy we're talking about, isn't it?"

"Yes, and as much as I hate to participate in anything that involves speaking to him, he's actually thought of a good idea."

Hermione raised an eyebrow. "Go on..."

"Well, he wants to raise money for Hogwarts. Specifically for Muggle-borns. He wants to pay for a group of wizards who will each be assigned to a Muggle-born who has just been given their letter. The idea is that they'll go with their assigned pupil and their family to Diagon Alley and spend some time with them explaining the wizarding world, Hogwarts, and answering any questions they or their family might have. I was lucky enough to have Hagrid do that for me but it's not a luxury the school can afford for everyone. At the minute, as you well know, Muggle-borns are given their letter with instructions to get to Diagon Alley and that's it. Malfoy wants to hold a yearly charity Quidditch match for Ministry employees, all ticket money for the match goes towards the school so they can pay for the assigned witches and wizards. He wants me to be captain of one of the teams and we're both to recruit six players and train with them. You have to admit, it's a brilliant idea."

Hermione stared blankly at Harry; trying to absorb the new information. Now, not only was Draco trying to change the laws to benefit Muggle-borns, he was also helping to introduce them to magic, not to mention using Harry to help him. It was too much to process.

"And this doesn't strike you as odd? Need I remind you of the many times he called me Mudblood? Now you're telling me he's all for them being at Hogwarts?"

Harry sighed. "I know it's hard to believe, Hermione, but even if this plan of his will somehow benefit him, it's still a good idea. Besides, I'm not going to turn down the opportunity to beat him at Quidditch again, am I?"

"I guess not. Just keep a close eye on him please Harry."

Harry nodded and the two left the office together. Hermione spoke to Harry only to say goodbye as they reached the fireplaces that would take her home; her mind elsewhere. She knew that Harry was more than capable of looking after himself, but she couldn't help but worry for her friend.