For a moment neither Draco nor Hermione moved.

"There's no chance this little altercation stays just between us, is there Granger?" he finally asked, his voice tinged with embarrassment as he looked away, clearly mortified by the whole ordeal.

Hermione almost wanted to laugh at the absurdity of the situation. As much as she tried to maintain her composure, the irony wasn't lost on her—she had nearly arrested a fellow Auror on her first day. Surely, this was embarrassing enough for both of them.

"As long as you don't tell anyone, no one else needs to know about this," she responded.

A look of relief washed over his face as his posture visibly relaxed. "Good." he said, the tension in his voice easing. Yet, there was something in his expression, a flicker of uncertainty, that made it seem as though he wanted to ask her more.

Before turning to leave him in the alleyway, Hermione quickly transfigured what looked like an old, discarded car part into a set of standard Ministry robes, and handed them to him.

"Is there anything else I can do for you Malfoy?" she asked.

"No," he replied, a touch of gratitude in his voice as he accepted the robes. For a brief moment, their eyes met, and unspoken tension hung between them. Neither said anything more, and then, without another word, Hermione turned and walked away, hoping that whatever had just occurred would never be brought up again.

As she turned the corner toward the Ministry's entrance, Hermione took a deep breath, trying to compose herself. The encounter with Malfoy had left her more rattled than she cared to admit. "Let's do this," she whispered under her breath, and with renewed determination, walked into the building.

The Ministry of Magic had changed significantly since the last time Hermione had been there. The once dark floors and marine blue ceilings were now replaced with a bright, open space, bathed in natural light from above. The oppressive atmosphere that had once lingered in the halls was gone, reflecting the new era that had begun in the wizarding world.

Around her, people streamed in from the Floo Network. Most were too preoccupied to notice the witch standing quietly among them, each person focused on getting to their destination. But as she made her way through the hustle and bustle to reach the elevators she heard someone's voice across the sea of activity.

"Hermione, is that you?" said the unmistakeable voice of Luna Lovegood.

Hermione turned, a smile already forming as she spotted Luna, who was weaving her way through the crowd with her usual serene grace.

"Hi, Luna," Hermione said, waving as she approached. "Long time no see."

Luna's face lit up with a genuine smile, her eyes sparkling with the same whimsical charm Hermione remembered. "Oh, Hermione! It's so good to see you. How have you been?"

"I've been good," Hermione replied briefly. "What about you?"

"Oh, so much has changed since I last saw you," Luna said with a bright smile. "We'll definitely have to catch up soon. Where are you headed? I can show you the way. This place has probably changed since you were last here."

"I would really appreciate that," Hermione said, her relief evident. "I'm actually looking for the Head Office of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement."

"Let me lead the way," Luna said, as she began to weave a path through the crowd. The sea of people, now taking notice of Hermione's presence, buzzed with whispers as they passed by. Luna either hadn't noticed or chose to ignore the murmurs entirely.

"You get used to it," Luna said discreetly to Hermione as they reached the elevators and stepped inside. Her tone was calm and matter-of-fact, as if navigating the whispers and curious glances was just another part of her day.

Now that they were in the privacy of the elevator, away from prying eyes, Hermione seized the moment to speak. "I'm sorry I haven't kept in touch, Luna."

"Oh, don't let the gnargles get to you, Hermione," Luna responded, her voice calm. "We all needed time to heal after everything we went through. We were children fighting an adult's war."

"I know, but I—," she began.

"I won't hear it, Hermione," Luna cut in gently. "I'm just happy to see you back. Everyone has missed you."

Hermione was silent for a moment. All this time she had felt an immense amount of guilt for leaving. She had feared that her absence would lead to resentment. Finally, she spoke just as the elevator doors opened, "I've missed everyone too."

Luna leaned forward, enveloping Hermione in a warm hug. She seemed to sense the unease that Hermione had been carrying all this time. That was the thing about Luna—she always seemed to know exactly what a person needed. "You will be okay, Hermione," she said soothingly as she held her close. Pulling back slightly, Luna pointed to the right. "The Head Auror's office is just over there."

"Thank you, Luna," Hermione said, her voice thick with emotion as she pulled her back into a tight embrace before releasing her. "I'll see you soon."

"If you need me, I'll be in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures." Luna said, and with that the elevator doors slid shut behind her.

Hermione felt a sense of ease as she walked towards the Head Auror's door. Breaking the seal of meeting people from her past had lifted a weight that she wasn't aware she was bearing from her shoulders, making the path ahead seem a little less daunting.

She knocked gently on the door.

"Come in," a voice called from within.

She pushed the door open and stepped into the office. Behind the large desk, a figure looked up with a broad smile that instantly put her at ease.

"Hermione!" Harry exclaimed, rising from his chair. His eyes sparkled with genuine delight as he crossed the room to greet her. "I can hardly believe it's your first day," he said with a joyful grin, as he enveloped her in a heartfelt embrace.

"How are you, Harry? How's Ginny? And the kids?" Hermione asked as he released her from the embrace.

"I'm great," Harry replied with a smile. "Ginny's been wanting me to arrange dinner with you and Ron whenever you're free. We definitely need to set that up. And I'm glad you're back safe from Australia. I have to admit, I'm a bit envious of your tan," he added with a chuckle.

"Don't be," Hermione said with a light laugh. "The heat this summer has been unbearable."

Harry grinned. "It's strange seeing you back on wizarding soil."

"Yeah, it does feel a bit surreal to be back," she confessed.

"A word of warning," Harry said, his tone turning serious, "the media is probably going to go a bit wild now that the 'Golden Girl' has returned. It's a hassle, but they don't have much else to cover."

"I was expecting that," Hermione replied, nodding.

"If you need any help managing it, let me know," Harry offered. "I can arrange for Pansy to help with your public appearances. She's excellent at handling the media."

"I'll keep that in mind," Hermione said with a grateful smile.

Hermione glanced around the office, noting its 'organised chaos', as she liked to call it. Every pile of folders was meticulously categorized, yet each individual folder seemed to be in a state of disarray with parchment sticking out at awkward angles. She smiled softly. "I'm glad to see that some things never change."

"Let me clear you a space to sit," Harry said, gesturing to the chair across from his desk. He swiftly moved a stack of old books and a few scattered parchments to make room for her.

"Thanks," Hermione said, settling into the chair across from him.

"So," Harry began, glancing over her documentation, "You completed your training with Kingsley last week."

"Yes," Hermione confirmed, nodding slightly.

"We're aware of your on-field experience," Harry continued, "but just to be cautious, I've arranged for you to work with a more experienced Auror for your first few months. We don't want to take any unnecessary risks."

Hermione felt somewhat relieved at the notion of working alongside someone else. The last time she had had to use her defence against the dark arts she had been 17. "That sounds great."

"How are you feeling about it all?" he asked, setting her papers aside and meeting her gaze.

"I'm nervous," she admitted. "But I'm ready." A part of her knew that she was prepared to dive back into it all, to be part of something meaningful and to make a difference.

"We've got a strong team, but I have no doubt you'll be a fantastic addition to it, Hermione. We didn't bring you back just for show."

She laughed. "We all know you're the main show around here, Harry."

Harry grinned. "You'd be surprised at who's proven themselves over the past few years."

"You mean someone has finally managed to outshine the Boy Who Lived?" She asked sarcastically.

"Believe it or not," Harry replied with a grin, "we've got a few surprises in the ranks."

"I'm glad," she responded.

Harry stood up from behind his desk. "Right, let's get you your official identification." He walked over to a filing cabinet and retrieved a small, neatly wrapped package. "This will officially make you as part of the team."

Hermione took the package from him, unwrapping it to reveal a sleek, embossed Auror badge and a set of identification papers. "Thank you."

Harry smiled. "Now, let's get you settled in. I'll show you to your office."

He gestured for Hermione to follow him as he led the way through the department's corridors. They navigated through the labyrinth of offices and cubicles, Harry occasionally pointing out notable colleagues.

As they walked, Harry continued. "Your office is just down the hall. You'll be sharing it with your partner."

As Hermione approached the door, her eyes fell on the two plaques affixed to it. One was still blank, while the other bore the name 'Auror Draco Malfoy.' Her smile faltered, her brows knitting together in confusion.

Harry, seemingly oblivious to her dismay, swung open the door. Hermione followed him inside, and the sight that greeted her was a model of organization and efficiency. The office was neatly arranged with two desks placed opposite each other, each adorned with comfortable chairs and a wealth of reference materials neatly shelved along the walls.

Harry's enthusiasm was undiminished as he gestured toward the space. "Here we are. This will be your workspace, and as you can see, it's equipped for both you and Draco. We thought it might be more efficient to have the two of you share this space, given the collaborative nature of your tasks."

Hermione's gaze swept over the room, taking in the polished wood of the desks and the orderly arrangement of files and books.

Harry continued, "I know it might seem unexpected, but Draco's been an asset to the team. I'm sure the two of you will make a great pair. If there's anything you need to get started or if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask."

Hermione managed a tight-lipped smile, though her mind was racing. "Thanks, Harry," she said, her voice steady but her thoughts turbulent. She stepped further into the room, trying to adjust to the idea of working alongside Draco Malfoy

"Oh, and let me know when you are free for dinner," Harry said winking at her as he left her to settle in, the door clicking shut behind him.

Hermione stood in shock for a moment. Slowly, she began to walk around, her curiosity drawing her to Draco's side of the office. His desk was meticulously arranged, showcasing a collection of historical wizarding books. Among the spines of ancient tomes, a single photograph stood out. It was a well-worn picture of a young Draco with his mother, a snapshot of a simpler time long before the shadows of the war had cast their long, dark reach.

Her eyes moved to the wall behind his desk, where a dartboard hung, an odd contrast to the rest of the office's polished professionalism. Hermione's lips curled into a faint, bemused smile. "How very Muggle of you," she murmured under her breath.

Suddenly, the office door swung open with a loud bang, and a disheveled Draco Malfoy stumbled in, his hair tousled and his robes slightly askew. "Sorry I'm late Harry," he muttered, not looking up as he entered. "You wouldn't believe the morning I've had."

Hermione's lips curved into a small, knowing smile as she watched him from across the room. "Oh, I think I might," she replied.

Draco's head snapped up, his eyes widening in surprise as he finally registered her presence, his expression shifting to one of mild surprise, as if the pieces of the puzzle were starting to fall into place. "Well, this explains why Potter tried to organize a meeting with me this morning,"

Hermione chuckled softly, shaking her head. "I guess we both had an eventful start to the day."

Draco smirked, "You could say that."

The two of them stared at each other for a moment, stormy grey eyes clashing with honey brown ones. Beneath the surface of their amicable exchange, there was an unspoken tension—a subtle, almost palpable awareness that lingered between them. Both seemed to acknowledge it, though neither addressed it directly.

"I see you've got a bit of a muggle touch with that dartboard," Hermione remarked, her tone light as she gestured toward the dartboard hanging on the wall behind his desk.

As if breaking free from a trance, he quickly shook his head and turned to look behind him. "Guilty as charged. Sometimes you need a bit of muggle diversion to balance out the magic."

Hermione had to stifle her surprise at how casually Draco spoke. The last time she'd heard him mention anything muggle, it had been laced with disdain and prejudice.

"Oh, and about what happened this morning," Draco said with a smirk, as if trying to provoke her, "I'm not mad at you."

"That's very generous of you, Malfoy" Hermione replied, her tone edged with sarcasm. "I mean, on my first day on the job, I find a man with his hood pulled up covering his face, trying and failing to cast spells in an alleyway behind the Ministry. I think you can understand why I might have been a bit suspicious."

Draco's smirk widened as he watched her reaction. "I can only imagine how disappointed you were when you realized it was me."

Hermione's eyes narrowed slightly, though a hint of a smile tugged at her lips. "Well, let's just say I wasn't expecting to run into you quite so soon."

Draco opened his mouth, then closed it again, a conflicted expression crossing his face as he struggled to find the right words. Instead, he shifted his gaze toward the desk, clearing his throat. "Well, if you're done interrogating me Granger, we might as well get to work," he said, his tone more neutral now but with a faint trace of humour.

"You know, you can call me Hermione, you know," she said.

Draco gave a wry smile and shrugged. "Old habits die hard," he responded, pulling a file from his desk and walking over to her side of the room.

"What's this?" she asked.

"This case just came in this morning from a Muggle part of town," Draco explained, his expression growing serious. "A squib shop owner was found dead at the scene."

"Has anyone been down to the scene yet?" Hermione asked, her tone steady as she worked to mask her emotions. This was her first case, and she was determined not to let any weakness show.

Draco nodded. "Yes, a team was dispatched right after the report came in. They've already secured the area and collected initial evidence."

"Have we got any preliminary reports on the cause of death or possible leads?"

Draco glanced at the file before handing it over to her. "Not much yet. The initial assessment suggests it could be magical, but they're still waiting on a full analysis."

Hermione stood up and made her way to the door, her mind already focused on the case, but before she could leave, Draco's voice called her back. "Where are you going?"

Hermione turned, "To get a firsthand look at the scene."

Draco grabbed his jacket from the back of his chair and nodded. "I'll come with you. Just let me finish up a few details here." He said as he quickly jotted down the address, ensuring they had all necessary information before flooing there. "Right let's go."