To Nutmeg44 for figuring the plot out – you have been with Working for the Dragon ever since I uploaded the first chapter and I really appreciate it. Thank you so much! xoxo

Working for the Dragon

Chapter 24. Another Epiphany

"Tonks?" I blinked my eyes in disbelief as I caught the unmistakable features of the metamorphogus standing before me. I wasn't acting, I was genuinely surprised. I had known she was in Draco's office however I least expected to see her in the human resource room. Especially since limited people were allowed access in here.

Her hair was not in its sisterly shade of red today, in fact she was a blonde with wavy hair. Her features were slightly sharper than usual and her expression was distant and business like. She wore her Auror robes. If I hadn't overheard, her appearance would be enough to let me know that she was here strictly for business purposes.

"Ginny! What are you doing here?" She stared at me in alarm.

"I work here-"I said, giving her an odd look. Something was definitely wrong around here and I was determined to find out.

Now is the time to unleash your inner actress, Ginny.

"What are you doing here?" I waved my hands around to show that I referred to her presence in the human resource room.

"I came here to look for you. I was with Draco earlier and I thought I should say hi. Teddy sends his love." She added. I caught a brief expression of guilt fleeting across her face before she masked it with her business-like demeanour.

She was lying through her teeth and while that stabbed me, I was not angry with her. She did everything for a reason, I knew.

I had to piece this puzzle together though. I couldn't just sit back and watch while the love of my life got screwed over.

This had to be the reason why Draco was so distant. Throughout his life, he had always been screwed over by something or another. Even though he cared about me, I could tell that he placed some distance between us. And even though it made me uncomfortable and the worst part was that I understood his reasons for it. I hated myself for that some times.

I wish I could be the bratty, demanding girlfriend. Tonk's question had me shaking my head out of my wishful thinking.

"So what are you actually doing here?" She prodded casually, the hint of an Auror in the tonality of that question.

"Channy discovered that she had a file to her name like every staff who worked for the empire. She wanted to check it out since she lost her temper a couple of days ago. She wants to know if she got a bad record for giving Mrs Greengrass a piece of her mind. I promised that I would retrieve it for her." I lied casually hoping that my expression matched my tone.

"Is that even allowed?" She asked frowning.

I nodded my head –"As long as someone authorized does it, anyone can view their file. It's like a report card. It helps when you decide to leave the company, sort of a resume in that sense." I recited.

As a secretary of the man who ran the Malfoy Empire, I was required to remember mundane pieces of information like this. Thankfully they were easier than memorising the recipe of pumpkin pies.

"That's interesting. So where is Channy?" She asked inquisitively. I shrugged, thanking my lucky stars that I actually knew where my best friend was. I was sure that she wanted to double cross this information with Channy. I didn't blame her it was part of her job.

"Why don't we continue this conversation outside?"I asked her –"I mean it's not like you are actually in this room for any reason apart from seeing me." I added carefully, watching her expression change. I smiled at her innocently, pulling her arm.

I already had what I wanted, I told myself triumphantly. As long as I got Tonks out of the way as soon as possible, I would be able to retrieve Gerald McDomer's file.

As we walked towards my office where I planned on ordering a pot of piping hot yet rejuvenating tea even though I hated it, I asked her a random question –"So anyway, how did you know that I would be here."

"Draco." She lied as though that explanation was enough.

I nodded my head absent-mindedly.

"Ginny, you said that you were in the room to take Channy's file right?" She asked.

"Hmmm…." I murmured in reply, my thoughts dwelling in that dusty room as well.

"Where is it?"

"Where is what?"

"Channy's file?-"She reminded me.

I looked down to my bare hands. Goodness that was terrible acting! I had walked out of that room empty-handed. I felt and probably looked like a deer caught in the middle of headlights. She had me cornered.

This lying business was not made for me; I got caught every time I lied. That deal with hiding my job from my family and then what I did with my first pay and now this. I should just stop altogether.

"Oh dear!" I feigned. –"Your arrival had me distracted. Oh well, I can go back later. It's not that important."

She nodded her head looking at me meaningfully. I studied her; I don't think she suspected anything. I reflected back on the conversation I had with her at the start of my job when I had to accompany Narcissa for Marvin Choque's fashion show.

Flashback:

"I was just wondering about Gerald McDomer, you know the man who worked….." Before I could complete my sentence, she took me by surprise, responding….

"About time now, I was waiting for that."

"Do you possibly think that he is…?" I stopped midway not really wanting to continue that sentence as I felt sick to the stomach.

"What?" She asked, confused.

"Are you crazy? There is no way that he could have murdered Gerald McDomer, the evidences are against him. However, it doesn't help that they had quite an argument before he died. From what we've heard, they got along all the time. Draco appointed him when the Malfoy Empire was just at its beginning. He was Draco's legal advisor. He was quite distressed about the murder."

-End of Flashback-

From what I gathered, Gerald McDomer and Draco had a pretty good business relationship. I still didn't understand why Draco was being associated with the death of that man. Even Tonks believed that, well previously at least.

Not to mention Goyle and Audrina's little plan to extort Draco.

I had to take things as they came now. If I acted hasty, I might end up in trouble or land Draco in more trouble. For now, as much as I love Tonks, I had to get her going.

Things were working in my favour; she didn't seem to want to stay long as well. As soon as she realised that I planned on ordering tea for the both of us, she dispersed.

"I'm sorry Ginny; I'm here on official business. " She hugged me, all the guilt finally visible on her pretty face.

"It's okay." I embraced her back tightly, my heart was heavy too.

I decided to lay low after she left the office, one never knew. Besides all the experiences I had in life had taught me to always expect the unexpected.

I did a couple of quick tasks like drafting a couple of letters and spell-checking proposals. After say half an hour, I decided that it was time that I head back to the lion's den.

Before that, I decided to take a peek at Draco's office. Tonks hadn't left apparently. And with Draco's special instruction that no one, me included was to see him without permission, I couldn't go to see him either.

I made a vow to bring Extendable Ears everywhere I went now. If I wasn't spying on someone, it would at least entertain me whenever I was bored.

Heading back to the room, I grabbed Channy's file making a mental note to owl her about the situation. I didn't intend on informing her about Draco's association with the Gerald McDomer case. Enough people were involved it seems.

Apprehension and guilt filled my mind as I practically stole the file from the human resource room. Draco would be livid when he found out. He might even break up with me. He could fire me.

Wild thoughts raced through my mind as I headed back to my office. I hid Gerald McDomer's file at the first place I could find. Briefly I wondered if there was a locator spell on these files. We weren't allowed to bring them out of office until our contract with Malfoy Empire expired - something about maintaining the secrecy of the place.

I had to read and return this file as soon as possible and I couldn't do it now, not when I was at the risk of having Draco or Tonks walk in any minute.

I read through Channy's file. It wasn't much; it was updated daily by a spell of some sort I gathered. As it was nothing more than a couple of pages, I kept it on my desk and continued with my work although my eyes kept darting towards the hiding place every couple of minutes.

I had disabled the retrieving spell as I mentally imagined Draco marching up into my room with a look of fury on his face as he performed the spell. It was terrifying.

Draco had asked me earlier to edit a couple of proposals. I was free to leave once I had submitted them.

Easily a couple of hours flew by as I remained immersed in my work. I walked over to his cabin for what felt like the millionth time today. Hesitantly, I knocked his door softly, announcing my presence.

I waited shortly before straining my ears against the door.

"His file is gone!" Tonks cried out in alarm.

"The real question is, was it even there earlier?" Draco asked frustratedly.

"I couldn't check. Ginny was there."

"Ginny?"

"What was she doing there?"

"She wanted Channy's file."

"She took Channy's file. It's stated on the register in the room."

Malfoy Empire had a system, authorized personnel had to state on a register in the room that they had taken a file out. No alarm bells went off when I had left with the unauthorized file, it was just standard procedure.

I felt blood drain from my face as I further overheard. Thankfully I was fully coherent and not frozen in fear or panic. My mind screamed for me to interrupt their conversation once again. I had to get out of there.

"Draco, it's me. You said you wanted me to submit the proposals before I leave?" I reminded him uncertainly after knocking.

The door opened revealing a hassled, almost angry looking Draco and a tense and frustrated Tonks. I had chosen the wrong time to come.

Wordlessly, I handed the files over to him. My arms ached to embrace him. My heart was heavy and I suppressed the urge to tear. I wanted so much to tell him the truth, to let him know that I was there.

I couldn't – he wouldn't want me meddling in his affairs. Would an ordinary girlfriend do that? Would another girl do what I was doing or rather wanted to do for him?

"Is everything er…okay?" I asked quietly, eyeing him. I tried to convey every emotion that I felt with my expression.

He nodded before pulling me into a hug. He kissed my hair lightly before resting his head on mine. I closed my eyes lost in momentary bliss.

"Go home alright?" He told me quietly and I nodded my head.

He squeezed my hand lightly before walking me out the door.

As I left, it hit me. No ordinary girlfriend would do this.

I was crazy, I had to be.

I was crazy in love with Draco and I just had another epiphany.

The question now was what about the file that rested in the drawer in my cabin.

Yeah, totally original hiding place, I know.

I hope you guys liked the update! I will post another hopefully longer update soon. Thank you for the reviews for the previous chapter. Reviews please! xoxo

P.S: The next chapter is going to be interesting!