Chapter 6

"Mr. Malfoy," the American wizard greeted. There was serpentine quality to his voice that struck Draco reminiscent of the dark wizard that dogged his memories. There was something else about Henry Gray that troubled Draco although he was not entirely sure what.

"Mr. Gray, it is a pleasure as always. I wanted to say thank you again for meeting with me," Draco said. As they exchanged pleasantries a waitress dressed in a seductive sequin dress brought over two glasses of scotch. The two men lounged in the darkly lit parlor; it was a familiar scene for Draco, who had mastered the art of business social etiquette. Take a sip, make a joke, offer a cigar. Repeat.

He would have much rather cut ties with the wizard and Compton Enterprises altogether; while the salary they had given him was substantial, Draco knew he did not need the money. And yet he was conflicted with an unfamiliar desire to investigate. To find out what secrets the company was keeping. Or perhaps, more specifically, whether Hermione was in any specific danger of them.

It was a strange thought that occurred to him, that this woman's well-being would occupy his concern. Draco tried to convince himself that this was simply part of being a better person but even he knew deep down that there was something more. Although he did not have the courage to investigate those feelings.

"How are things moving along with the rehabilitation center?" Henry asked.

"As well as to be expected, I would say. The Frankford foundation has been putting together everything needed on their end to break ground on the new site," Draco said. Which was true, what he didn't say was that Hermione and him had been digging through past rehabilitation center projects, trying to find something that would indicate ulterior motives on the company's part.

"Excellent, and the list?"

"The list, sir? I don't follow," Draco replied.

"Prior to Mr. Frankford's untimely death he had made mention that there was a list of all their clients that might benefit from the treatment center. Have you seen it?" Henry asked, his gray eyes unemotional.

"This is the first I have heard of it," he said casually.

"Ah, then perhaps you should talk to Miss Granger. She seems to be the one running operations these days; find out what she knows of it," the American wizard replied quietly but there was an undertone in words that made the hair on Draco's arms stand. Draco was not sure what purpose this list served Compton Enterprises but he felt instinctively that this was part of something bigger.

Draco arrived at Hermione's office and found the witch at work. He lingered in the doorway, amused by the way her brow furrowed as she read over the papers on her desk. The tip of an unused quill pressed against her lips.

He cleared his throat to get her attention, causing her to jump with a start.

"Eating quills are we?" Draco asked with a crooked smile.

"And how long were you standing there?" Hermione rolled her eyes but found herself smiling despite herself as she discarded the evidence of her habit in a desk drawer.

"Long enough; it's okay, Granger I won't tell anyone your secret," Draco said smugly as he seated himself in the chair opposite of her desk.

He told her of his conversation with Henry Gray and watched her expression change from one of confusion to concern as he brought up the "list".

"Our client list? Mr. Frankford would never have disclosed that to anyone outside the foundation. It would be a breach of trust," Hermione said, thinking aloud. A darker thought occurred to her: could her boss have been killed because of this information? But why?

"I see those gears are turning," Draco remarked.

Just then, Hermione's stomach grumbled but the witch, already engrossed in thought, ignored the hunger pangs. Eyeing the walls of books and parchment and the uneaten bagel perched on the corner of her desk, Draco surmised that she had not eaten a meal at all that day.

"Merlin's beard, Granger-when was the last time you ate?" He asked and Hermione looked up, squinting slightly as she tried to recall.

"Um…"

"Impending doom or not, you are coming with me and we are getting food." The former Slytherin student demanded. There was no pause, no room for negotiation as he ushered her from the office.

"And people tell me I am bossy," she said.

Several blocks away they found themselves sitting on a park bench, two cokes and firebread between them. Hermione was still very much absorbed with her thoughts but was thankful for the food—as well as the company.

"I want to help," Draco said, guessing the nature of her thoughts. "If Compton Enterprises is up to something, which might be the case, we need to find out."

Hermione quirked an eyebrow, suspicious.

Draco sighed. "Not this again. Surely it's in the realm of possibility that I can want to help?"

She saw his mood darken and Hermione felt like she had a responsibility to give him the benefit of the doubt. Despite the issues of the past, this version of Draco seemed sincere. And he had, after all, told her about the Henry Gray's interest in the list.

"I am not sure where we should even start. We don't even have any proof they are doing anything wrong," Hermione said with an exasperated sigh. A silence filled the gap between them.

He shrugged with a wry smirk, "We'll figure something out. I am sure there is a brilliant idea just lurking in that big hair of your's."

She rolled her eyes and laughed. The sun was beginning to set, casting the last embers of it's light over the trees in a dazzling display. Hermione tried to remember the last time she had enjoyed such a sunset. She glanced over at her companion, he was leaning against the bench, admiring the sight as well.

There were many things that were nagging for her attention: the Foundation's path, the attacks, the possible threat of Compton Enterprises—and yet in that exact moment Hermione felt a sense of peace, however fleeting. It was a bizarre situation she found herself in, sitting on a park bench sharing a meal with the man she had once loathed. And rather then repulsed by his presence, she was…content.

Given that her home was only a block away from the north side of the park, Hermione decided to walk the distance instead of Apparate. She was slightly confused when he joined her.

"It's getting dark out, I am not going to let you walk home alone," he said matter-of-factly. Hermione wasn't sure what to make of this chivalrous version of Draco; the one that watched sunsets with her, who offered to help her in what might be a pointless search for answers.

They walked together down the park paths as the light posts began to turn on around them. And they talked. Not about work nor painful pasts but the sort of conversation one might have when getting acquainted with someone new.

"I can't picture you wandering around America," she said as he recounted his years abroad. After Hogwarts, Hermione had heard through other former students that Draco Malfoy had all but disappeared. She had not given it much thought back then.

"Oh, you would have gotten a good laugh Granger. I couldn't have been any more out of place in New York City."

He told her about his first job as bank intern and the mishaps of living in the muggle world. She told him about her brief work in the ministry and even as a natural progression of their conversation, her relationship with Ron too. While it wasn't painful to talk about how things had ended with her school sweetheart, she realized after the fact that it might be a nonetheless awkward topic.

Draco's jaw tightened at the mention of the ginger-haired wizard but he did not say anything disbarring. They were getting near her home when Hermione noticed a flicker of movement in the shadows up ahead.

"Did you see that?" Hermione asked.

Draco didn't answer immediately but she saw him reach inside his lapel pocket for his wand. Hermione did the same. The light post nearest her porch was out, it had been for weeks, but the lack of light left the area unnervingly dark.

"Lumos," he said and suddenly a soft light unfurled from the wand. They walked further, the luminescent glow guiding them.

As they approached, Hermione saw the outline of a figure hunched over on her front porch stoop. She felt Draco's apprehension next to her as clearly as the rapid thump of her own heart.

Upon seeing the pair, the figure moved toward them from the shadows.