A/N: Hi guys! This one is a bit different from my last one, both tonally and thematically. Please take caution, especially for younger readers. M for quiet heavy smut later.

Love, A xxx

Chapter 1

Four years.

She thought it might be Four.

Hermione's hand instinctively went to her finger; to fiddle with the ring that sat there. Expect it didn't. Her right hand caught air and wrapped around her other wrist instead, awkwardly unoccupied.

Two months now. That she knew correctly. Two months since she had felt her world fracture, throwing the silver and ruby ring blindly at Ron's chest as he ran after her, half undressed and flushed. Hermione rubbed her eyes against the memory of it. The arguments that followed in the days afterwards, screaming herself hoarse at them both, her red hex catching the other witch square in the chest between Rons hands, outstretched in apology. She had fallen to the floor stiff and silent, and Ron had bellowed acid at Hermione as if she was the one at fault. Two months alone in her new flat, alone for the first time in almost 3 years. Alone except for Crookshanks' dour company which had, in fairness, improved significantly since the departure of her red-haired competition. She had never liked Ron. Maybe that had been a sign.

Hermione sighed and shifted her weight to the other foot. She could see him now beyond the fluted glass door, making some joke or another with the clerk as they walked back towards the desk. The dappled light from the windows behind him making her squint her eyes to see him. But she would know that hair anywhere.

Yes it had been four years, she decided, since she had spoken at the trial. The one that finally set him free. He stepped through into the reception area, a tawny paper folder clutched in his pale hand.

She shifted again and stepped forward.

"Is that the file?" she asked quickly.

"Sharp as always, Granger", came the silky reply.

She wasn't sure why the request for the file meant he was here too.

"I'm afraid I have some bad news - I can't give you the file ", he said, tone surprisingly apologetic.

"What? Why? And why make me wait?", she bit back, tone rising.

He chuckled. "Because... I didn't want to subject Antony here to your temper."

Hermione flicked her eyes to the young clerk standing glumly to the side and felt her cheeks redden. She crossed her arms defensively and then dropped it, clearing her throat and trying for something more neutral.

"Can you at least tell me why?"

"Well… the case needs to be filed with the head of the DMLE, it was serious enough she thinks the Minister may need to be informed. And before you say it, I know the presence of the ... creature... there means you need it too. But Tonks has been very clear, it needs to go up the ranks from this way first. How you even came to know about…Well, I guess we have a leak". The same silky tone, eyebrow rising at the last line.

Of course, they both knew who the leak was. Harry. Exhausted and hungry, leaning against the doorframe of her kitchen, a glass of red wine disappearing too fast as he told her about his manic day. Hermione had 'oohed' and 'aahed' over the stir fry until his words had finally become interesting. A dragon! Kept illegally of course and tortured and they hadn't even known it would be there.

Hermione sighed. He had her there. There was no way she could escalate, but curiosity itched inside her mind, and she finally looked up from the file on the desk to meet his eyes, smoke grey this shadowed room. Draco Malfoy. Of all people. Harry had thoughtfully left out that detail, the one where he mentioned who else had been on the raid. But if he couldn't give it to her, she mused, why had he brought it with him?

He studied her for a moment then turned to the clerk.

"I forgot to tell you, I left the other half of the Tenby file with Ashcroft. You need it?"

Antony blinked in surprise, but the dismissal was clear enough and he fumbled to make his exit.

Draco turned back to her and her obvious confusion. But she had had enough. Hermione turned on her heel towards the door. He was faster though and cut her off, pushing his torso between her and the door, shoulders against the glass panel.

"Someone's in a hurry," he whispered lowly. They were too close - the door, him, her, in a tight wedge of space. She stepped back, arms crossing again and fingers settling habitually on that pale, empty band of skin.

Her eye dropped to it, and he followed her gaze, straightening up.

"If you can't give it to me, why did you bring it Malfoy," she asked irritably.

"Oh, that's actually other half of the Tenby case", he said with a smirk. "But I do have a suggestion for you. I could tell you everything you want to know."

"Why would you do that?"

He shrugged non-commitally, "Because I know you're dying to know". She looked up at him. He was taller than she remembered, almost a head taller than she was in her sensible leather shoes, and his expression was unreadable.

"What's the catch?"

"No catch. But I can't tell you here, not in the ministry - too many people"

She nodded along, eyes narrowing and unsure.

"So... I guess I'll have to tell you over dinner", he said, sickly sweet and vicious.

"What!"

He smiled, leaning against the door. "Relax Granger. Thursday, the pub across from the ice-cream place on Church Street, you know it?" Another nod.

"Good." He finally moved aside, opening the door for her.

Hermione slid past him out of the suddenly airless room and into the hallway. One step, then two and three, halfway down the short stretch of corridor. She hadn't heard the door close yet.

"Oh, and Granger?"

She paused but didn't turn, couldn't turn. Her face would be too hot.

"You always were too good for him."

Click