Chapter 3
Draco watched Hermione leave the ballroom with fixation. He could have told himself it was the way her twilight-inspired form moved that he found so mesmerizing but in reality it was the fact this was the same Hermione Granger from his youth. Gone was the girl who's bushy hair and large teeth he had mocked as a child. Instead she was a grown witch. A very attractive one at that.
In their exchange of barbed words, the former Slytherin regretted antagonizing her. He had only set foot back into the UK less than month ago after many years because he wanted to move forward on a new path. He wanted to leave behind the baggage of the past.
But old habits die hard, he said to himself.
Draco had not imagined that she would be one of the first people from his past that he would interact with. Despite his calm outer persona, his heart had skipped a beat when he first saw her enter the office. He had wondered if she was going to expose his past to everyone in the room.
He didn't need to use Occulmency to know the thoughts that must have passed through her mind. The contempt was there and with good reason he acknowledged.
They had not just fought as teenagers in a trivial school-house rivalry but on opposite sides of a war. A war he had wanted nothing to do with but by then it was too late to turn back. Instinctively he brought his hand over his left sleeve: the permanent reminder of his transgressions hiding beneath it.
Buried in his thoughts, he did not immediately notice he was no longer alone standing off to the side of the ballroom. Standing beside him was Henry Grey, the representative from Compton Enterprises and his current employer.
"I saw you had a dance with that witch, miss Granger," the older man said quietly. There was no joy, no humor in his tone.
"Yes sir," Draco replied.
"Do keep an eye on that one won't you? I don't get the impression she quite likes our presence but so long as she doesn't meddle too much she shouldn't be a problem."
Draco nodded slowly. He suddenly didn't feel as though Compton Enterprises had recruited him to proctor a new humanitarian project but something else entirely.
"I don't know Hermione, he seems really nice to me," Tabitha said with a shrug, pouring the lawyer a cup of tea. It was the next morning and while the rest of the office was still at home nursing hangovers from the ball, Hermione was at her desk ready to work.
Hermione scowled and Tabitha hesitated before going on, "maybe I just don't see what's the matter."
Hermione tried to explain to her but could tell that the idea of war, of evil wizards and witches and the battle of Hogwarts were all vague concepts to Tabitha. She was a Muggleborn witch who by the time she got her acceptance letter, was welcomed not by rubble but a freshly rebuilt Hogwarts. The pain and suffering Hermione had bore witness to was not something Tabitha could easily understand. Very few could.
Tabitha's reaction was not all too uncommon. Many witches and wizards, even those who had gone through the hardships of the time, were eager to forget that anything had ever happened. Particularly those who had fought for Him, she thought bitterly.
"Nevermind," Hermione sighed. Changing the subject, she asked for a copy of the Daily Prophet to read over her morning tea. The secretary went to get it for her but returned with a wince.
"You aren't going to like this one."
And indeed, Tabitha was correct:
SUSPECTED VAMPIRE ATTACK IN EAST VILLAGE: TWENTY DEAD
(DAILY PROPHET) In the early hours of the morning Aurors were alerted to a disturbance in Rutlands.
By the time officials arrived at least twenty wizards and witches were dead with at least another six in serious condition. The wounded have been transported to St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries . No suspects have been named at this time however given particular evidence found at the scene of the crime authorities believe vampires might be responsible.
"This is bad, very bad," she finally said.
Hermione had been working tirelessly for the past two years to build better relations between the Ministry and the vampire community. So many cases like Sanguini's had come across her desk over the years, she knew many of the local vampires by name. She also knew that most of them were calm, if not reclusive individuals. They preferred a consensual donor or blood pack over the savagery displayed in the news article.
"Tabitha, see if you can find more news on this," Hermione called out from her office. When a few moments passed and she received no reply, she walked around the corner of her office door to see that the young witch was occupied with a new arrival. Draco Malfoy was leaning against the edge of her desk, casually flirting with the woman who looked on with love struck eyes.
I don't have time for this.
"Tabitha!"
At the sound of her name, the witch bolted from her seat but Draco remained unconcerned. He glanced to Hermione's office and then back at the witch, "Uh oh, looks like you have been summoned."
She giggled and bounded over to Hermione to carry out her boss's request with a quiet yes ma'am.
"Please send Mr. Frankford an owl as well to let him know about the news. This is going to put a damper on a few of our upcoming cases," Hermione said. With a nod, Tabitha disappeared into another room.
"And you," Turning on the wizard once Tabitha was no longer in earshot Hermione said, "don't corrupt my secretary. Unlike some people, she is a decent person.'
"Testy now, are we? Are you jealous of my affection?" Draco said with grin. "Careful Granger, I might think you fancy me."
Hermione made a noise of disgust, "What are you doing here? No one will likely be in before noon today."
"Except you," he said, subtly closing the gap between Hermione and himself.
"Except me," she answered crossly, unmoving.
"And me!" Tabitha chirped, noticing that she had all been forgotten by the two. She noticed the tension between the pair and tried to smile amicably.
"Yes well then, I suppose I should leave these files with you ladies," Draco said. He retrieved his wand and with the wave of his wrist a small folder of paperwork appeared. "These are some of the documents our people needed you to look over for us. Namely the werewolf treatment center Compton Enterprises wants to build in London."
"What interest would they have in building a treatment center?" She asked with suspicion her tone as she skimmed over the documents. "What is in it for them?"
"For the sake of charity?" He offered with a bland tone but Hermione remained unconvinced. "But really don't ask me, my job is to make sure everything goes smoothly," he said with a shrug. "Besides, what is so wrong with that? I must say, you seem to be looking for issues where there aren't any."
Tabitha made a grimace and excused herself discreetly from the ensuing conversation, murmuring something about needing to make tea—despite the fact that Hermione clearly already had her cup.
"My issue, as you put it, is that you are involved with this. Excuse me if I don't trust your motives. I still remember who you are Draco Malfoy."
"Well what you think really isn't of my concern," he said stiffly and any warmth he had displayed earlier was gone. At that, he turned to leave, only addressing the secretary: "Have a lovely day Miss Tabitha."
When he disappeared beyond the elevator doors there was a long pause before either Hermione or Tabitha spoke.
"So…that was interesting," Tabitha eventually said.
Hermione's living room was covered in stacks of parchment, books and newpapers from both the Muggle and Wizarding sources when the doorbell rang. Hermione cursed under breath. She had completely forgotten that Harry was coming over for dinner that night. Muttering a tidying-up spell, the books and papers suddenly came to life and darted into her nearby desk and bookshelves until the space was relatively presentable.
"Tidying spell?" Harry greeted when she opened the door, knowing Hermione far too well. They both laughed as they embraced. Harry carried a bag of take-out food to the small dining room table, instantly making himself at home. Through the years and hardships their bond had become so familial that in many ways Hermione was closer to Harry, Ron and Ginny than her own parents.
"Where's Ginny, I thought she would be coming too."
"Pre-season practice started back up," Harry replied. "Guess you are stuck with just me tonight."
As they ate and chatted, Hermione felt the stress of the past few days slip away. She listened intently as Harry regaled her with his recent adventures as an Auror and they talked about her latest court battles but also the unfortunate interactions with Draco Malfoy. Harry, even more than Hermione, had deeper resentment towards the former Slytherin and shared her wariness in regards to his budding involvement with Frankford lawfirm.
They were sitting in the living room when Harry saw the Daily Prophet's headline about the presumed vampire attack. Hermione traced his gaze and asked, "Do you know anything about it? I have been digging all day but the Ministry seems to be keeping everything very hush."
Harry nodded. "I wasn't put on the case but I heard from those who went to the scene that it was gruesome."
"But why do they think it was vampires?" Hermione asked, "none of the articles I've read say why."
"Some of the people who survived said the attackers moved like shadows, going for the necks of their victims. They left that part out of the news on purpose," Harry said. He knew Hermione was passionate about helping magical entities and often saw them in a vastly different light than others so he watched his words, not wanting to offend her. "I don't think they have ruled out other possibilities though…"
"It doesn't make sense, Harry," Hermione replied. "Vampires are just like us. They aren't by nature violent people."
Harry rubbed the back of his neck, knowing that if he dared to question her assessment it might end their otherwise pleasant night with one another. So instead of instigating any further he simply promised he would let her know if he found out anything more useful.
Satisfied, Hermione let the subject drop. It was getting close to 11 by the time they noticed the clock and Harry left soon after.
Just as she lifted her wand to murmur "nox" and extinguish the lights, movement outside her window caught Hermione's attention. Given that most of her clientele occupied themselves strictly in the evening, it wasn't unusual to receive an owl late into the night. But assuming it was either that or Crookshanks, she was surprised to find neither at the window.
She gazed outside and saw nothing. Hermione wasn't one to succumb to paranoia and wrote it off as a trick of her imagination. But even as she closed the curtains and turned off the lights she could not shake the feeling that something had been outside—watching her.