A/N Hey everybody! I'm sorry it took me so long to get back but school and work got crazy busy for a moment there! Also, based on views and a few reviews of my stories, I was super inspired to write for all of them! As a result, I spent a good week or so plotting out the rest of the stories! I should be able to get onto a weekly posting schedule so look forward to that! Also, I finally got a few chapters out for all of the stories so without further ado, here they are! - Casper

Disclaimer: Sadly I do not own Harry Potter. *sniff sniff*

Kat spent the rest of the afternoon running errands and then grabbed some food for dinner. It wasn't until she went home that she thought about her run in with Malfoy. She honestly hadn't thought that he would've reacted like he did. He always seemed so cool and collected and although she should decide to not investigate, she was curious. Knowing that there was a passion underneath the surface intrigued her. Also, his upset reaction towards his menacing position when talking to her caused her to be interested about why he had that reaction. She pondered the interaction while eating dinner. Afterwards she owled Kingsley and was surprised when she received a response within an hour.

Katherine,

I'm so pleased to hear from you. If it suits you, please arrive to the ministry tomorrow morning. If you stop by my office anytime between 8:30 and 10 o'clock in the morning I will show you to your 'department' offices. See you soon.

-Kingsley

Kat read the letter and was shocked at the swiftness of the turnaround. There were already offices? Deciding that some sleep was in order, she got ready for bed and set an alarm for 7:30 the next morning.

Kat abruptly woke up from a strange dream involving Malfoy beating her over the head with a beaters bat. She glanced at the clock and groaned when she saw that it was only 6 in the morning. After rolling around and deciding that sleep was not going to come to her again that morning, she decided that she would go fly. Dressing quickly into a pair of shorts and a tank top, she apparated to the nearby Quidditch pitch. Ginny played as a chaser for the Holyhead Harpies and gave Kat access to the pitch. Kat played a lot growing up and even played as a chaser for Gryffindor, but she decided that the high publicity life of being a professional Quidditch player wasn't for her and declined all offers with teams that she received. Despite not playing anymore, flying still calmed Kat down and she was a well-known visitor to the pitch. She was pulled out of her daydreaming when players started arriving at the pitch. Glancing at her watch, she was shocked to see that it was already 7:45. She quickly left and apparated home, jumped into the shower, dressed and ate breakfast. Grabbing her coat she apparated to the Ministry at 8:25. She checked in and walked to Kingsley's office.

Upon arrival Kat was shocked to find Draco Malfoy lounging against the wall outside Kingsley's office. I don't know why I'm surprised to find him here. He seems to just keep popping up around me the last couple of days. Not wanting to appear bothered by his appearance, she ignored him as she walked to the other side of the wall and stood waiting. She didn't even spare him a glance when he looked at her and continued to ignore him until Kingsley let them into his office.

"Excellent! I should've known that you both would be here at the earliest time I mentioned. This just helps prove that you two are going to be excellent choices for this job." Kingsley exclaimed. "I'm sure that you two would like to see the offices and get down to business on expectations and such?"

Recognizing that Malfoy wasn't going to answer Kat deigned to answer for them while discreetly kicking Malfoy's shin "Absolutely." Standing up, Kat ignored Malfoy's glare and followed the Minister out of his office.

The offices for them weren't located too far from Kingsley's office, upon walking in Kat was astonished to see how large it was. The room was very open, yet each section of the room was clearly defined for a specific purpose. In one corner there were 4 desks, two of them already had papers on them. Our supposed researchers I would guess. In another corner was a mini library with 5 ceiling tall bookshelves. In another corner there was a small, but well equipped, potions laboratory. The rest of the room was obviously designed for spell work, dueling and training. Kingsley went on to explain that the mini library was magically connected to the actual ministry library. Books about specific areas of magic could be brought to the room without having to leave the office. Right about the time that Kingsley finished showing them around the room, the door to the office opened and in came two slightly familiar faces.

"Ah Ernie, Padma. I'm glad you arrived when you did. I just finished showing Draco and Katherine around." Turning to face us, Kingsley addressed us again. "In case you don't remember this is Padma Patil and Ernie Macmillan. They were in your year at Hogwarts."

Finally connecting the semi familiar faces with their names, Kat remembered that she had maybe said a couple dozen words to the both of them combined during school. She was brought out of her thoughts when she heard Malfoy greet the two of them.

"Patil. Macmillan." Malfoy said cordially while nodding his head in a greeting.

"Hello." Kat said hoping that nobody noticed her absentmindedness. From the slight smirk she saw Malfoy sporting, she doubted it.

Sensing the awkwardness that accompanied the silence after Kat's greeting, Kingsley excused himself. After his departure the room fell silent once more before Padma finally mustered up some courage.

"So I'm really excited to get to work in this 'department,' I would be absolutely useless in the field though! I'm really good at research so this position works perfectly for me."

Kat grasped at the olive branch that Padma was extending "As much as I like to learn and do research, I think that I would go barmy if I had to do it all the time. So when did the two of you start?"

"Yesterday afternoon, so really we haven't been here much longer than you." Padma replied easily before continuing. "Since we just started, we haven't found any concrete leads on any artifacts. So, well we " gesturing to Macmillan and herself, "thought that maybe you both could use this time learning; while we may not know exactly what each artifact will do. There are certain areas within Charms, Arithmancy, Ancient Runes, Potions and Defense Against the Dark Arts that would be useful to look into and master. Similarly, healing potions and spells might be something useful just in case."

Malfoy chose that moment to speak up and shock the group, "that's a good idea Patil."

Blushing slightly at the faint praise Padma decided to extend the olive branch just a little further "Thank you, but you can call me Padma."

Malfoy nodded his head in agreement "Very well Padma, shall we Herondale?" he addressed Kat gesturing towards the mini library.

Shocked at his behavior towards Padma, so polar opposite from the way he treated her, she only nodded before following him towards the library.