For a moment, neither Draco nor Hermione moved, the weight of the situation hanging heavily between them.
"There's no chance this little altercation can stay between us, is there, Granger?" Draco asked, finally breaking the silence.
Hermione almost wanted to laugh at the sheer absurdity of it all. Despite her best efforts to remain composed, she couldn't ignore the irony—she had nearly detained another Auror on her very first day.
"As long as you don't tell anyone that I almost arrested you, I'm sure no one else needs to know that you need to brush up on your transfiguration," she replied.
A look of relief washed over Draco's face, his posture visibly relaxing. "Good," he said, his voice now softer.
Before leaving him in the alleyway, Hermione quickly transfigured a discarded piece of metal into a set of standard Ministry robes and handed them to him.
"Is there anything else I can do for you, Malfoy?" she asked, her eyes meeting his.
"No," he replied, holding her gaze.
Without another word, Hermione turned and walked away, her footsteps echoing softly in the alley. As she rounded the corner toward the Ministry's entrance, she took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves, and with renewed determination, she squared her shoulders and 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.
As Hermione moved through the bustling atrium, she observed the busy flow of people arriving through the Floo Network. Most were too absorbed in their own tasks to notice the witch standing quietly among them. Each individual was focused on their own destination, weaving through the crowd with a sense of purpose.
Amid the cacophony of voices and the shuffle of footsteps, she suddenly heard a voice call out her name from across the atrium.
"Hermione, is that you?" The voice was unmistakable, filled with the familiar Irish lilt of Luna Lovegood.
Hermione turned, a smile naturally spreading across her face as she recognized Luna gracefully making her way through the bustling crowd with her usual serene grace.
"Hi, Luna," Hermione greeted warmly, waving as she approached. "Long time no see."
Luna's face brightened into a genuine, beaming smile, her eyes sparkling with the same whimsical charm that Hermione had always admired. "Oh, Hermione! It's wonderful to see you. How have you been?"
"I've, um—" Hermione paused, struggling to find the right words as the memories from her time in Australia surged to the forefront of her mind. "I've been good. How about you?"
"Oh, so much has changed since I last saw you," Luna said excitedly. "I'm actually working in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures now. We just rehabilitated an injured Augurey last week!" Her voice was filled with enthusiasm as she discussed her work.
Hermione's eyebrows lifted in genuine interest. "That sounds incredible. You'll have to tell me more another time."
"I'd love to," Luna responded warmly. "Where are you headed? I can show you the way. This place has probably changed a fair bit since you were 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."
"Follow me," Luna said with a reassuring smile, as she began to weave her way through the bustling crowd. The sea of people, now aware of Hermione's presence, began to buzz with murmurs and curious glances. Luna navigated through the throng with effortless grace, seemingly oblivious to—or perhaps deliberately ignoring—the whispers that followed them.
As they reached the elevators, Luna glanced back at Hermione, her demeanor unruffled by the attention. "You get used to it," she said discreetly.
Hermione followed closely, grateful for the familiarity and calm presence of her old friend amidst the whirlwind of her first day back at the Ministry. Stepping into the elevator, she let out a small sigh of relief.
"Thanks for that," Hermione said as the elevator doors shut behind them, enclosing them in the privacy of the small compartment.
With the clamor of the atrium now a distant hum, Hermione seized the opportunity to address the elephant in the room. "I'm sorry I haven't kept in touch, Luna."
Luna turned to her with a gentle smile, "I won't hear any apologies, Hermione. I'm just glad to see you back. Everyone's been missing you."
Hermione fell silent, the weight of her guilt settling heavily on her shoulders. For years, she had carried the crushing remorse of leaving, tormented by the fear that her absence had sown seeds of resentment. That fear, constantly stoked by her partner's words, had taken root deep within her.
As the elevator doors slid open, Hermione finally spoke, her voice soft, "I've missed everyone too."
Luna leaned forward and enveloped Hermione in a warm, comforting hug. "You will be okay, Hermione," Luna said soothingly. She held Hermione close for a moment longer before pulling back, and pointing to the right. "The Head Auror's office is just over there."
"Thank you, Luna," Hermione said as the elevator doors shut between them.
Finally beginning to feel like herself again, she was ready to embrace her new journey as an Auror and leave the past behind. With a renewed sense of ease, she made her way toward the Head Auror's office, her steps steady.
She knocked gently on the door.
"Come in," a voice called from within.
She pushed the door open and stepped into the large messy office. Behind the desk, a figure looked up with a broad smile that instantly put her at ease.
"Hermione!" Harry exclaimed, springing to his feet. His face lit up with genuine delight, the corners of his eyes crinkling as he hurried across the room to meet her. "I can hardly believe it," he said with a wide grin, pulling her into a warm, 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 on my case about arranging dinner with you and the entire Weasley clan whenever you're free."
Hermione laughed, her eyes lighting up. "How could I ever say no to her?"
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.
"How was Australia? We haven't heard from you in quite some time." His tone had softened, but the air around his words grew heavier.
Avoiding discussing what had truly transpired in Australia, she offered a deflective smile and replied, "The heat this summer has been absolutely unbearable."
Harry studied her face in silence for a moment, as though he was waiting for her to say more. "It feels strange, seeing you back on wizarding soil,"
"It feel strange to be back," she confessed, careful to avoid further scrutiny.
"A word of warning," Harry started. "The media's 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 with a knowing nod.
"Right then," Harry began, reaching beside him to pull out a box. He flipped it open and retrieved a folder bearing her name, quickly scanning through the contents. "Kingsley signed off on your training last week."
"Yes," Hermione confirmed.
"We're aware you have plenty of on-field experinece," Harry continued, "but just to be cautious, I've arranged for you to work with a more experienced Auror for your first few months. It's common practice, and we don't want to take any unnecessary risks."
Hermione felt a wave of relief at the thought of working alongside someone. "That sounds great," she said.
"How are you feeling about it all?" he asked, setting her papers aside and meeting her gaze, his expression softening.
"I'm nervous," she admitted. "But I'm ready."
"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 rolled her eyes softly, but couldn't help the small smile that made its way across her face. "We all know you're the main show around here, Harry."
Harry grinned. "Well 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, "we've got a few surprises in the ranks."
"I'm glad," she responded, a smile still tugging at the corner of her lips.
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.
Harry, seemingly oblivious to her dismay, swung open the door and Hermione followed him inside.
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. The sight that greeted her was a model of organization and efficiency. The office was neatly arranged with two wooden desks placed opposite each other, and along the walls was a wealth of files and books neatly shelved and categorised along the walls.
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 tightly. 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.
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 the robes that Hermione had transfigured for him 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 watched him as he moved around the room. "Try me," she replied with an eyebrow raised, and the slightest smirk playing on her lips.
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. "Firstly," he started, "you are not Harry. And secondly, this explains why he tried to organize a meeting with me this morning,"
Hermione let out a soft huff of amusement. "I guess we've both had eventful starts to the day."
"That's certainly one way of putting it," Draco conceded, slipping of his jacket with ease and turning to face her.
Beneath the surface of their easy conversation, an unspoken tension simmered, thick and charged. Both of them regarded each other with a quiet, almost competitive intensity, as though each were silently measuring the other, waiting for something to give.
Breaking the moment, Hermione gestured toward the dartboard hanging on the wall behind his desk. "I see you've gone for some muggle decor," she said, keeping her tone purposefully light.
As if snapping out of a trance, he quickly glanced over his shoulder. "Guilty as charged," he admitted with a slight grin. "Credit where credit's due—it's a great pastime."
Hermione had to stifle her surprise at the casual ease with which Draco spoke. His words, light and unburdened, stood in stark contrast to the venomous prejudice she had once heard in his voice whenever he so much as mentioned anything muggle. This man before her was someone entirely different.
Clearly done with the conversation, Draco moved silently to his desk, which faced hers. Without a word, he settled into his chair and began meticulously unpacking his briefcase, his movements precise and deliberate.
Without so much as a glance upward, Draco flicked his wand, sending individual files floating from the shelf behind Hermione's head to his desk. The steady stream of flying papers forced her to step aside, the abrupt intrusion making it abundantly clear he had no intention of waiting for her to move on her own.
"Do you mind, Malfoy?" she asked sharply, ducking as another file narrowly missed her.
Draco finally looked up, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "I'm not used to having other people in my office," he replied smoothly, as if that excused his actions.
She rolled her eyes but decided not to let him get under her skin. "What are you working on?" she asked, her tone carefully neutral.
"There aren't any open cases assigned to us at the moment," he replied, not looking up from the file in his hands. "So I'm trying to get through my backlog of unfinished reports."
She sighed, the weight of his words already tiring her. "Hand some over, then," she said, finally setting down her belongings and sinking into the chair behind her desk, ready to dive in.
In just three days of working together, Hermione and Draco had plowed through one month's worth of unfinished reports. For her, it had been an efficient crash course in understanding how the department was being run, though the silence between them often spoke louder than words. Over the past few days, their conversations had been sparse—light, impersonal exchanges that skirted around anything of substance. It wasn't hostility, nor was it camaraderie, it was strictly professional, almost cold.
This morning, she'd been left alone in the office. Draco was conspicuously absent, however, she had noted that his jacket was already in the office when she had arrived. Hermione set her quill down with a quiet sigh, having just finalized yet another report. As she reached to sign off, the door slammed open with a sharp bang, reverberating through the room like a crack of thunder. She didn't need to look up to know who it was.
"Granger," Draco greeted curtly, barely sparing her a glance as he tossed his belongings onto his desk and dropped a file with a muted thud.
"You know, you can call me Hermione," she pointed out, with a hint of exasperation in her voice.
Draco shrugged nonchalantly. "Old habits die hard."
She watched him closely, noting the restless energy in his movements, the way he seemed unsettled.
"You're late," she remarked, folding her arms as her gaze followed him.
"I was speaking to Harry," he replied flatly, not bothering to look in her direction.
"Oh, so you call him Harry, but you won't call me Hermione?" she quipped, raising an eyebrow.
Instead of offering her a proper response, he merely shrugged again, his cool composure as unshakable as ever. Finally, he shifted his gaze toward her, his expression unreadable. "If you're done interrogating me, Granger, we have work to do," he said, as he pulled the file from his desk, and started walking towards her side of the room.
"What's this?" Hermione asked, eyeing the folder in his hand.
"Your first case." he responded, handing it over.
Her brows knitted in curiosity as she opened it, and scanned the initial details. "When did it come in?"
"This morning," Draco explained, his expression growing serious. "It's from a muggle part of town. A squib shop owner was found dead at the scene."
"Has anyone been down to the scene yet?" Hermione asked steadily, trying to take in as much information as possible.
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 from over her shoulder. "Not much yet. The initial assessment suggests it could be magical, but they're still waiting on a full analysis."
Hermione stood and made her way toward the door, her thoughts already consumed by the details of the case. But before she could step out, Draco's voice called her back.
"Where are you going?" he asked.
She turned to face him, "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," he started. "Just give me a moment to finish a few details here."
He quickly jotted down the address from the file, his handwriting neat and precise, ensuring they had all the necessary information before flooing. Once satisfied, he stepped away from his desk and gestured toward the door. "Right, let's go," he said.