Chapter 2

Hermione was quick to hide her surprised expression behind a mask of professionalism cultivated from years spent in the courtroom. She was not sure what could have possibly brought her childhood enemy back into her world but she was not going to let him get the upper hand in riling her.

"Mr. Malfoy," she said offering up politeness as she bit back the urge to greet him with something far more venom. "It has been awhile."

"It certainly has," he replied back and the smirk tugging at his lips never wavered. Hermione broke her gaze from him with an expectant look to her boss, hoping for an explanation.

If Zachariah sensed any tension in the pair, he made no note of it in his tone. Beaming happily, "ah! So wonderful you two have met before! Hermione, these fine wizards are from Compton Enterprises. We were just discussing some exciting new plans."

"I am afraid we must be going Mr. Frankford," interrupted a weathered looking man with an American accent. He looked to be in his fifties with shocks of silver in his jet black hair. His expression was serious, devoid of any humor; this alone did not bother Hermione, she dealt with all sorts of serious personalities in her work but there was something else she found uncomfortable about him. Her instincts told her to be cautious. He did not look at Hermione and as he rose from his seat so did everyone else in the room.

"Yes certainly, Mr. Grey. You all must be quite busy. I will walk you out," said Frankford, walking along side the mysterious man. "Hermione, we will talk later tonight at the ball. See you there!" And before she could get a word in, he was gone with the rest of them striding down the hall.

"It's been a pleasure," Draco said cryptically as he walked past her. She narrowed her gaze subtly but his expression was one of smug triumph. He knew something she didn't and despite Hermione's best efforts to hide her emotions, Draco sensed that this annoyed her.

When her boss and the mysterious wizards from Compton Enterprises were gone Hermione stormed into her office without a word to her secretary, who had been patiently waiting to find out what was going on. Hermione did not want to face the barrage of questions from Tabitha, of which she still did not have answers for just yet.

Even after mulling over the possibilities, Hermione was no closer to knowing what was going on. Why was this the first she was hearing about Compton Enterprises? Anything involving Draco Malfoy seemed like a recipe of trouble. While she was not one to accept defeat easily, Hermione acknowledged that she was going to have to wait to find out.

Tonight, she thought to herself, remembering the annual ball was hours away. It was then she remembered that she was meeting Ginny to look for a dress later on. Nothing like waiting to the last minute, she said silently. Although the idea of dress shopping was not on her list of favorite activities, Hermione was looking forward to seeing her long-time friend. If nothing else, Ginny would sympathize with Hermione's disgust with Draco Malfoy appearing in her company's office.

"And the git just stood there?" Ginny said with a frown as Hermione relayed her earlier interaction with the tow-headed wizard of their past. They were browsing through an endless aisle of chiffon dresses and silk gowns. The dazzling array of colors and styles made Hermione's head spin and she was thankful to have Ginny around to help. Fashion was not Hermione's forte.

Ginny Weasley was in many ways like the sister Hermione had longed for in her early youth. Someone she could confide in with matters that neither Harry nor Ron had much inclination to talk about. Ron. Hermione's first love, one of her closest friends, but also Ginny's brother. Despite the opportunity for awkwardness, Hermione and Ron's break-up had thankfully done little to tamper with the friendship between Ginny and Hermione. Deep down, Hermione wondered if it was because Ginny still thought they would end up back together.

Changing the subject from the Slytherin alumna, it was as though Ginny had read her mind. "Ron says hi by the way; I saw him a couple weeks ago and he asked how've you been. I think we ought to get together for a butterbeer soon, all of us, just like old times."

"That would be great, how is he by the way?" Hermione asked as she paused in front of a promising dress.

"Good," Ginny said, shaking her head in disapproval of Hermione's choice. "Same old, same old with him. Him and George are staying busy with the shop." The redhead grabbed a gown off the rack and handed it to Hermione delicately. Before Hermione could come with an excuse, Ginny directed her to the changing room.

Hermione stepped back out of the room feeling self-conscious, despite the fact that her only audience was Ginny. "Well? What do you think?"

"You are going to knock them dead tonight," Ginny beamed.

Despite Ginny's vote of confidence, Hermione felt very much like she was back in Hogwarts coming down the stairs for the Yule Ball. At times, it was hard to see herself as anything but that awkward young girl with frizzy hair. But as she arrived for the evening's festivities, Hermione felt herself morph into the confident woman people saw in the courtroom. Her insecurities swept away as she greeted colleague with all the mastered grace she had honed over the past few years.

And with her friend's help in choosing the dress, Hermione even felt pretty. Her brown hair was pinned in a delicate up-do; her gown was a beautiful inky blue stitched with an enchanted silver thread that matched her elbow-length gloves. With each step it subtly flickered like a thousands stars in the night sky. It was far more extravagant then she might have chosen for herself and yet Hermione also delighted in feeling a bit like one of her Jane Austen heroines.

As she entered the ballroom to take her seat at Frankford's table, she couldn't help but see that Draco Malfoy had already made himself comfortable beside her boss. And suddenly the wave of delight she had been coasting on dissipated abruptly.

"Hermione! Come and have a seat," Frankford said and gestured to the chair beside Draco while he took a long sip of champagne. He was certainly in a celebratory mood but the witch could not figure out why. "Draco here was just telling me the funniest story about his misadventures across the pond."

"You should ask him about the one involving a ferret," she replied, dutifully taking her seat and secretly delighted that Draco clenched his jaw, obviously annoyed. Neither one of them could forget the day Mad-Eye Moody casted a curse on Draco and turned him into a ferret.

"Oh I bet it's a good one!" Frankford let out a hearty chuckle and judging from his red face, Hermione wondered just how many glasses of firewhiskey he might already have had that evening. It was the simplest explanation for his overly jovial disposition. Once again he didn't seem to sense any strain between the two old acquaintances.

Sitting next to her childhood enemy made Hermione's skin crawl but she reminded herself she had dealt with many foul individuals in her lifetime and this event demanded nothing but the most cordial air. Nonetheless she made sure to occupy herself in conversation with the other colleagues sitting at the table.

As waiters took the dishes away the ambient instrumental music paused. Frankford along with several of the Compton Enterprises wizards entered the middle of the room. Hermione was still perturbed that he had not revealed what these guests were doing here but waited patiently along with everyone else.

"Good evening my most-esteemed colleagues," Frankford said. "We are gathered here to celebrate a most wonderous anniversary of our beloved foundation and it's community of like-minded wizards and witches. When my grandfather opened our organization to serve the unheard voices of our world, the magical entities who still fight for their basic rights, he was the first to do so. And now, many decades later we carry out his dreams. As we turn another year older, I would like our community to grow which is why I am excited to declare that we will soon be partnering with Compton Enterprises in the coming months for more projects to benefit not just our clients but the Wizarding world!"

Everyone clapped although it was obvious to Hermione that she was not the only one still confused. What is going on, she wondered as the music started back up and the guests began to make their way to the middle of the room to dance.

Her boss was eccentric and passionate for their work but he not one to make rash decisions and it felt very strange that this partnership was the first she had heard of it. But before she could become too wrapped in her thoughts, Hermione was jostled to her feet.

"Hemione my dear leave that serious look of your's at the office, tonight is a night for dancing!" Frankford said. And suddenly before she could stamper an excuse, he was pushing her towards Draco Malfoy. Perhaps in his mind he was doing her a favor; it had not been the first time he had tried to set her up with some young wizard. To him, Draco was the charming representative from their newest client. How was he to know that Hermione despised him?

"Sir, Mr. Frankford I honestly coul-" she began but her protest was cut short as Draco extended his hand.

It was one thing for Frankford to push her to dance with him, it was entirely another matter for the blond Slytherin alumna to accept. However, Hermione was not going to be the one who made a scene and reluctantly took his hand. After all, she imagined that was just what the wizard wanted.

"What do you think you're doing?' She whispered fiercely as he lead her into a waltz.

"I believe it's called dancing, Granger," he said drily and Hermione was at least slightly relieved that he was still the same person she remembered him to be. If it had been anyone else, Hermione might have been impressed with his movements as he directed them through each step of the dance with such practiced grace. But instead all she could think about was their long unpleasant history. "Which, surprisingly, you know how to do."

She scoffed but was quite grateful for those lessons she had talked Ron into doing with her those years ago. However, Hermione could not have imagined then that she would be putting them to use in such circumstances.

"I'm not sure what you and your people are up to but I will find out," Hermione said hastily.

"I really don't know what you are going on about," Draco quirked his eyebrows in feigned innocence. But if there was any mistaking his expression for sincerity the slow smirk cambering across his lips betrayed him, "I am just here for the party."

As the song ended softly, those around them were curtsying and bowing to their partners.

Draco made motion to do the same but Hermione pretended not to notice as she quickly walked away, eager to put some distance between herself and Draco. She had begun to feel suffocated by her surroundings and stepped onto the balcony for a reprieve in the cool autumn air.

Some evening this turned out to be, Hermione said to herself, unsure of what exactly she had expected. She was no closer to knowing what her boss was up to with this mysterious company nor did she like that Draco was involved but the answers she sought would have to wait once more. She was going home.

Glancing back through the ballroom doors, Hermione saw that the tow-headed wizard was casting a gaze in her direction. She could not make of his expression but it made her wonder all the more what he knew as she Apparated into the night.