I know I won't be able to sleep now. Too many emotions running through my head. This isn't a new development. It's been awhile since I was able to sleep through the night. I get up and make my way back downstairs. I'll find some late night cheesy film to watch.

I make a cup of tea in the kitchen before I make my way to the living room.

I'm half way through some strange thriller when the door opens. It's Ginny.

"Shit, did I wake you?" I ask.

"No." She yawned. "I woke up for a wee and heard the TV."

"Charming." I laugh.

She sits next to me and puts her head on my shoulder.

"Are you ok?" She asks.

"Yeah I'm good. I was just talking to Malfoy before I went to bed and it brought back some memories I don't really want to remember." I laugh.

"Really? About what?" I sigh I know Ginny she won't give up until I tell her.

"Viktor." Is all I say.

"You want to tell me what happened?"

"It just didn't end well." I laugh. "If him telling me he never wants to see me again not ending well. He never even said goodbye."

"Why did he do that?" She was sitting up now looking at me properly.

"Because I told him I needed to carry on travelling. He wanted me to stay he," I take a deep breath. "He told me he loved me and wanted me to stay with him. I just couldn't."

"Oh Hermione I'm sorry." She hugged me then.

"It's ok. It was a year ago now." I squeeze her back thankful for her comfort.

"But I can tell your still hurting. It must have been awful." She pulled away. "Did you love him too?"

I just nod because I know now I did, maybe still do. I can't say it out loud though it would hurt too much. Ginny seems to understand.

We never spoke after that. It wasn't long before the door opened again and Malfoy walked in.

"Hey. What going on?"

I couldn't help but laugh and Ginny followed suit.

"What's wrong?" He asked looking down at his clothes.

It wasn't his clothes though. It was his hair. It was flat on one side and sticking up. It was a far cry from his usual well-dressed self.

"Your, your," Ginny managed to get out before laughing again.

It wasn't that funny really but in my sleep deprived mind I found it hilarious.

"Hair." I managed to finish for her.

"Brilliant." He murmured before taking his wand and straightening it out.

"You need to teach me that." I gasp.

"Right I'm going back to bed. I'm knackered." Ginny said.

"Night." I say after her.

"Have you even been to sleep yet?" He asked.

God I must look awful for him to recognize that. I shake my head. "It happens sometimes." I shrug it off.

"I have a sleep draught if you want one." He said.

"No thanks I don't like how they make me feel the next day."

"I make a mean hot toddy." He smiled.

"Yeah ok." I smile and follow him to the kitchen.

I sit on the counter and watch him work. He has the pan on the stove and is getting the milk out.

"Aren't you going to use magic?" I ask it would be faster.

"Doesn't taste as good." He shakes his head. "Call it my secret ingredient." He winked at me.

I watch him add the milk and fire whiskey then he pauses.

"What?" I ask.

"This is my real secret ingredient." He moves to stand in front of me. "Promise you won't tell anyone."

"I promise." I laugh. He brings it out from behind his back. "A cinnamon stick?"

"Yes." He sticks it in the pan. "Ginny has been trying to get me to tell her for months."

"Really?"

"Really." He smiles.

He takes the pan off the stove giving it a stir. He takes a spoon and scoops some in. He's standing in front of me again holding out the spoon. I open my mouth and he puts the spoon in.

It's good. He pulls the spoon out and a drop spills down my chin. Before I can make a move to catch it he catches it with his thumb and then puts it to my lip. I put my tongue put and lick the milk from his thumb.

He looks at me a second before he leans forward and puts his lips to mine. For second I don't know what to do. Then my body takes over and I kiss him back. He moves closer and deepens the kiss. It's gentle, not what I was expecting.

He moves his hand to my cheek and uses his other to bring me closer to him. I push myself closer to him too wrapping my arms around his neck.

My hand move to his hair fisting to bring him closer. He pushes up my top so his hands are on my bare skin and I moan. It's been awhile since I had someone's hands on me.

Just as I was wondering how far this would go. Someone called from the stairs. He moved away quickly moving back to the pan.

"Draco?" It was Ginny. She pushed into the kitchen. "Do I smell your hot toddy? Can I have one?"

"Sure I think I've made enough." He cleared his throat not looking at me. "Grab me some mugs?"

"Sure." She bounces to a cupboard and I don't take my eyes from Malfoy. "Here. Did you see his secret ingredient?"

"No." I shake my head. "Even if I did why should I tell you?" I say playfully even though I would rather have ran from the room.

"Because I've been trying to get him to tell me for ages." She laughed.

"Here." Malfoy hands me a mug somehow without looking at me still.

"Thanks." I say probably a little too curt. "I'm going to bed now. See you tomorrow."

I don't look back. But I hear Ginny ask what he'd done to me. I don't hear his answer I'd reached my room.

What the hell just happened? I don't want to think about it. I don't want to think about how good it felt. I take a sip of my hot toddy. Damn it's good.

The only think I can think right now is perhaps now it's done we can move on. Maybe this weird tension between us will be gone. I laugh to myself. I'm reaching. I need to find a way to get over this and quickly because from his reaction he obviously doesn't want it to happen again.

I finish my hot toddy and place my head on my pillow and try to sleep. I know it's hopeless. But to my surprise I actually drift off to sleep.

The next few days I try to avoid Malfoy like the plague. I prepare for my interview with Kingsley and view a few places. I hate them all. I just can't find one I like.

I know Malfoy knows I'm avoiding him. Frankly I don't care either. I think about this as I make my way to the ministry. The man is so annoying. I've mulled this over like crazy. I thought the kiss was pretty amazing but maybe he never. I hate myself for thinking about this so much.

I'm thinking about this so much I don't realize I've actually made it to Kingsley's office and that he was talking to me. I stand and shake his hand but he tugs me into a hug. I laugh it's been a long time.

"Miss Granger." He says showing me into his office. "Please sit down. How where you travels?"

"Minister you know to call me Hermione." I smile. "They were fantastic I enjoyed most of it."

"And you know you can all me Kingsley." He sits at his desk and gives me a long look. "You should know this is just a formality. I already know I'm going to hire you for this position."

"But..." I begin only to be cut off. Damn Malfoy was right.

"The connections you have made on your travels are invaluable." He reaches into a file he has in his desk. "Here take a look at these. They are letters from the Ministry's you visited saying how much they would like to work with you. I also know from your teachers at Hogwarts that you are meticulous and will handle anything I can throw at you."

"Ok. Tell me what the position is all about." I say flicking through the letters from the ministries.

"It's head of International Magical Cooperation."

"Wait." I pause him holding my hand out. "Head?"

"Yes." He nods. "We've had a clear out of that department after corruption had been discovered. Almost everyone in that department was involved it has been a major inconvenience."

"Corruption?"

"Yes taking money for having certain events in their country." He sank in deeper in his chair. "We've managed to keep it under wraps but for how much longer I do not know. That's a reason I need you to start straight away. You will hire all your own staff. It will be your department everything that happens will be yours."

"That's a lot of responsibility." I say.

"You'll be well paid."

"You know that doesn't concern me." I sigh. "How quickly do you want me to have this department fully functional?"

"Six months."

"Kingsley!" I say.

"I know, but I have full faith in you."

"And I have complete control over who I hire?" I look at him. "No interference from you?"

"None at all." He smiles. He knows he's got me. I have one condition though and I don't really know why I'm doing it.

"Ok I'll do it but I have one condition." I say.

"Anything."

"I want you to hire Draco Malfoy." I say and I see his face fall and confusion pass over it.

"Draco Malfoy?" He asks.

"Yes. He deserves a second chance and he was the only person who could challenge me in school. I need someone like him on my team." I sigh. "I just don't want him to know I was the one who suggested this."

"Ok if you're sure." I nod at him. "Ok I'll send him an owl. He has applied for a few positions here and never been successful I'll just say I looked at those applications."

"Can you put an advertisement into The Daily Prophet for me too please?"

"Of course." He stands up. "I'll send all the applications to your new office. I'll get someone to show you where it is I have another meeting now."

"That's fine Kingsley I'm sure I can find it on my own. Just tell me what floor."

"Level five." He pulls me into a hug once more. "Good luck Hermione though I don't think you will need it."

"Thank you."

I walk out then and head to the elevators. Well it looks like I have a new job. I head to my new office. As I walk through the floor I take in the mess it has been left in. Files where everywhere some of them are partly destroyed. I really have my work cut out for me. I need help, like, now. I send a message to Kingsley asking him to send someone to help me as soon as possible. It's still early, I can get a lot done if I start now.

I take off my jacket and roll up my sleeves and take out my wand ready to dig in.

It's past lunch time before I hear the elevator go and I breathe a sigh of relief. I turn around and see Malfoy standing there. Damn I didn't think I would have to deal with this so soon. I would have to play this right I don't want him to know I had given him this job I want him to think he had done its own his own merit.

"What are you doing here?" I ask.

"I was told this is where I should come for my new job?" He looks shocked. I don't blame him.

"Fantastic." I sigh. "Well this is my department."

"Your department?" He asks. I nod. "Did you hire me?"

"No. that must have been Kingsley." I sigh running my hands through my hair. "I told him I needed someone ASAP to help me out with this." I wave my hands pointing out the mess.

"Ok." He shrugs. "Listen if we're going to work together we should talk about the other night."

"No we don't. It's fine." I say turning my back to him. Heading into another office. "It was a mistake I get it. It won't happen again."

He follows me. "What if I don't think it was a mistake?" He asks.

I turn and look at him. "You could have fooled me."

"I'm sorry." He says moving closer. I can't help it I stiffen a little. "I guess I was shocked you kissed me back. Then Ginny came down the stairs I didn't know what to do."

"So you just ignore me after. What makes you think I don't think it was a mistake?"

"Because of how you've been avoiding me." He comes closer again. "You want me too."

"Too?" I ask my brain seems to have run away. He comes closer. He's only inches away from me.

"I think that's obvious."

I feel his breath on my cheek and he's moving closer.

"Hermione?"

I jump back.

"I can't catch a break." I hear Malfoy whisper.

I walk out into the hall and see Harry. "Hey." I smile. "What are you doing here?"

"Kingsley told me you took the job. Thought you might want to get lunch." He hugs me.

"Sure. I'm quite hungry actually." Just then Malfoy comes out of the office.

"Hey Draco." Harry says. "Why are you here?"

"Hermione's not the only one with a new job." He shrugs.

"Congrats man. We need to celebrate tonight." He slaps Draco's arm. "You in?"

"Definitely." He laughs.

"You coming to lunch too?"

"Nah I had something before I got here. You two go. I'll carry on with the cleanup."

"Are you sure?" I ask.

"Yeah you go." He sighed. "I'll see you when you get back."

I nod and head out with Harry. Things with Malfoy are getting weird. I don't know how I feel. But every time I'm near him my body responds to him. I think I need to knock it on the head. I'll have to think about how to go about it.