Chapter Text
Hermione was running a few minutes late thanks to the pouring rain outside. The Floo system was backed up and extra crowded from everyone trying to avoid the morning showers.
It's not like we don't have drying charms…
With a heavy exhale she shakes her head and steps inside the Magical Law Enforcement Office floor.
“Morning Hermione, rain slow you down as well.” Harry greeted as he stood at his door.
“Sadly, you'd swear every Witch and Wizard that ever lived was trying to Floo in right now.”
His laugh was warm and low, “You know I'm not worried, but I did leave a list on your desk. If you could grab the files and what evidence we have so far for those cases listed.”
She hung her coat and didn't bother to sit, instantly grabbing the paper and skimming its contents.
“Easy, when do you need them?”
“Just give them to their respective Auror’s once acquired. Some of my men have been spending too much time in the field and have forgotten a few details pertaining to their active cases.”
Hermione lowers the paper about to respond but a vibrant green sticky note catches her eye. It's stuck to a coffee cup with a pastry bag leaned up against it. She smiles as she pulls it from its slight hiding spot on her desk. “I'll get right on it.”
“Thank you Hermione.” Harry turns back into his office room and clicks the door closed.
How you liking the rain Granger? ~DM
The script was neat with elegant curves to each word. Damn posh men .
Warmth ran up her fingertips as she fully took hold of the cup. The strong smell of her favorite tea relaxes her instantly. She didn't even have to drink it and it still felt like heaven was pulling her away.
Heavenly indeed , The perfectly warm liquid slid down her throat. Her eyes darted to his desk but Draco wasn't there. His own coffee cup sat next to a stack of papers though with a half eaten blueberry muffin. She pulled her lip into her mouth and peaked at her treat for the day. He'd chosen a vanilla bean custard danish. The sweet aroma wrapping her in a soft blanket.
Folding her list in half she pinches it so she can scribble a response to him on a crimson sticky note. Of course choosing her sparkly gold ink pen for that extra Gryffindor pride. With perfect precision she holds her cup, pastry bag, response and list all in her left hand. Rounding her desk towards his.
“I'm telling you Peakes, she's a ten. Hands down.” Ron comes in just in time to watch Hermione place the sticky note on Draco's desk. He sneers as he passes but doesn't say more or continue his talk with Peakes.
“Morning Ron.” Hermione steals a piece of Draco's blueberry muffin but gives a small piece of her danish in return.
“You know that's unsanitary, sharing with a Death Eater.”
“What's left to dirty then? I've got saliva, body, mind, blood… am I missing anything Ronald?”
“Weasel already in a mood? The days just started.” Malfoy enters the stage. A bright yellow folder tapping his shoulder rhythmically as he approaches with a yawn.
“Good morning Draco. Thank you for tea, and breakfast.”
“Good morning Hermione, anytime,” He winks but sees his danish offering as well as some muffin missing. “If you want the rest of it you can have it. I have to get this report to Jenkins in Magical Creatures.” He takes the pastry offering and pops it into his mouth.
“Still the Werewolf case in Edinburgh?”
“Nah, Kneazle attack in Colchester. Something about illegal pheromones.” He struggles around the bite.
“Your mother would have a heart attack seeing you talk with your mouth full.”
Draco swallows the bite and smirks, “Oh Granger, I'm proud my ancestors are rolling in their graves with the decisions I make daily.” He plucks her sticky note off his desk and walks past her with another wink.
She bites her lip, steals a second piece of his muffin but leaves the rest. She needs to start on the list Harry gave her. With a spring in her step she makes her way to the door.
Honestly the ministry were humongous hypocrite's. ‘It's illegal to use extensions charms’ yet they have them everywhere throughout the ministry. Her job in the MLE department was archives. Making sure documents and evidence were in proper places and stored correctly. You would think they'd have a whole floor dedicated to the paperwork and evidence for the department but no. The ministry has essentially an illegally ever expanding closet in the MLE office for their never ending daily escapades.
Thankfully when she was brought in she was able to sort and file the entire room her way. Took her three weeks to get everything in order. Before, it took everyone in the office hours to find what they might have needed. Now though, she could find things within minutes. Others, if they actually paid attention, ten to fifteen.
Stepping inside Hermione places her tea on the ‘Loading Desk’ she calls it. Load all your paperwork and evidence there before heading back out. She snaps her fingers, forcing the list to float in the air.
“Right, let's get started.”
~~~~~
Id play in it if I didn't have to work <3
Draco hums as he walks back from the Magical Creatures department. He remembers playing in the rain as a little kid but the thought of it now seems cold and miserable. Perhaps with Granger I'd be different though.
He pictures her warm smile as they get drenched. Taking her hand and spinning her around. He’d want to dance with her. Sway them back and forth, have her kick up water as he lifts her into the air.
Her warm laugh fills his ears as he steps in time with a nonexistent song. Pulling her with him smoothly. His hands land on her hip, grips, and lifts her up in a half swirl.
“Ahhh~ Draco!” She laughs again.
As he sets her down he takes her cheek into his palm.
“You're so cute amour.” Draco leans in and brushes his lips on hers. They both smile before deepening the kiss.
Walking through the MLE door allows him to be greeted with the real Granger. She's sitting at her desk focused on something he can't see. He’d love nothing more than to distract her thoroughly. Hold her weight in his hands, have her straddle his hips…
“Earth to Malfoy, move.” Ron shoves into Draco’s shoulder causing him to scowl.
“Oh apologizes Weasel, upset I'm not gawking at you?”
“You should keep those cold dead eyes off of her.”
“Why, worried she'll lose herself in them, just like how you seem to lose brain cells at the mere sight of me. ”
Ron growls, his face turning red in anger. “I-”
“Ron!” Both heads snap to Harry as he peaks around the corner. “I have an assignment for you, stop bickering and get a move on!”
Draco however looks past the Head Auror to lock eyes with Granger. Her face of indifference softens, her lips curl, and a hit of pink dusts her cheeks. He winks at her which gifts him a deeper blush and her turning away to bite her lip.
Grumbling and sneering at Malfoy, Ron makes his way towards his desk. Draco also takes the moment to step further into the department space. More so wanting to get closer to Hermione but he watches Weasley throw his Auror badge in one of his desk drawers before stomping his way towards the back rooms.
“Malfoy, how's your assignments so far?” Harry crosses his arms.
Draco stands up straight, folding his hands behind himself. “Good, the pheromone samples are being examined with the Kneazle case; The Werewolf in Edinburgh was finalized and signed off on two days ago, just awaiting your approval; And I'm waiting to hear from my informant on the next meeting for possibly capturing Amycus Carrow.” Draco takes a slow breath, his thumb padding at his signet rings band.
Harry lifts his brow slightly but smirks, “Very well, help Hermione if she needs it. Other than that, keep up the good work. I'll try to give you something less furry next time.”
“Sir,” Draco offers a curt nod as Harry returns to his office.
“You know you don't have to be that stiff with Harry.” Hermione’s sweet tone relaxes Draco’s shoulders as he exhales.
“Force of habit,” Draco clears his throat, “So, what does the almighty Hermione Granger need help with. What can these posh hands do to you?”
Her sweet laughter and warm smile cause his heart to stutter. That tingly butterfly feeling warms his abdomen and causes his breathing to falter.
“Don’t you mean for me?”
“Oh, that too. What did I say?”
Her eyes smile as she shakes her head, “Come on, help me carry these back to the room.”
“Isn't it technically your room since you archive?”
“I already have my own Illegal room, I don't need another.”
“OH?” Draco rounds her desk swiftly and leans himself against its edge. “Do spill Granger, I'd love to hear about this Illegal room of yours.”
She hands him a large dingy box, “And why would I tell you~?”
“Well as an Auror, it is my job to find out. Gain information, Slyther-in if you will.”
Hermione groans and covers her eyes, “you did not just…”
“I sure did, now off to the secret room we go. And where hopefully, some secrets will be spoken.”
~~~~~
After helping Hermione, Draco disappeared for an hour. Upon his return he plops into his chair with a plastic cup and spoon in his hand. A smug smile paints his face as he tears into the plastic lid.
“What have you got there?” Hermione turns her head slightly in confusion.
“You'll see.” Draco winks at her. She just smiles, rolls her eyes and goes back to her paper.
Ron makes his presence known as he stomps into the MLE department grumbling and somehow drenched. Leaving soggy footprints that sprout mushrooms as soon as his foot leaves the floor.
“How was your visit to Long-Nott?” Draco stabs the contents in his cup with his spoon. Watching Weasley with amusement.
“Shut up Malfoy.”
Grunting Ron takes his seat. His fingers pull on the drawer and as it opens he slams his other hand to the desktop.
Hermione jumps slightly at her desk and looks over with annoyance. “Can we not?”
Ron growls, “He put my fucken badge in Jell-O again.” The Auror badge in question is thrown onto the desktop with a wet thwack. Shimmering green substance snaps and jiggles.
Draco swivels slightly in his chair. The spoon in his mouth slowly slides out and with a satisfied hum he examines the utensil. “What makes you think it was me?” He points the spoon before it gets placed into the plastic cup of blue Jell-O.
“Because it's always you. I don't understand how you possibly have time for this nonsense.”
“It's called time management Weasley. You should try it sometime.”
“Perhaps if you actually kept your badge on you like you're required to, things like this wouldn't happen.” Hermione adds from her desk, not bothering to look up.
“The thing weighs a ton Hermione. Not that you’d care to remember.”
“First off,”
Hermione deliberately turns and furrows her brow. Her magic sparks to life around her causing Draco to shiver at the feeling. He sucks in a breath and drags his lips under his teeth.
“Charms exist Ronald. If your badge is too heavy, charm it to be lighter like everyone else does. Second, I know how the Auror badges feel.”
She glances at Draco briefly, then lifts her chin and smiles. “Malfoy’s is exceptional for example. Far better than yours ever was.”
Draco chokes, covering his mouth with the back of his hand. This however sets Ron off. He shoves from his desk with so much force it throws his chair back into Krasinski’s chair.
“You’d spread your legs for a filthy Death Eater!?”
“What I do and who I do is of no concern to you Ronald!”
Everyone in the MLE department silenced instantly to watch the show. The silence was so deafening as everyone ignored their own cases and paperwork.
“That doesn't give you the right to whore yourself out to the scum of the earth!”
“Whore! You seem to forget you're the one who cheated on me! Several times! Who’s the real whore here!”
Draco resists the urge to raise his hand to make a joke that it was Theo. He knows it would give Hermione a chuckle, not right now obviously, but after she's calmed down something like that would have her giggling for a while. But he holds it for now, this situation is getting too heated too fast. The magic coursing through the room is starting to get heavy and unstable.
“I wouldn't have cheated if you'd ju!-”
“That's ENOUGH!” The crowd instantly is preoccupied with their cases and paperwork again. Averting their gazes from the Head Auror who stands at his office doorway. “Both of you in my office.” Harry growls low.
Hermione huffs but stands and listens. Ron doesn't move until she's fully inside. Glaring daggers into her every movement.
“Malfoy.” Harry's tone made Draco snap to attention. Swiveling his chair to face the boss. “I have an assignment for you, get started on it.”
“Sir.” Draco gives a stiff nod. Watching Harry slam his door shut.
A heavy exhale escapes his chest. He best start the case. Play time was over and once the Golden Trio was done arguing he knew Hermione would be too irritated to stay. Choosing to go home early, if not sent home by Mr. Head Auror himself.
Draco quickly grabs his green sticky notes, scribbles something on it and places it on Hermione's desk before bounding of to learn of his new assignment.
~~~~~
Even the rarest, most beautiful of gems cannot compare to your beauty, your mind, nor your strength.
PS: I hear Ferrets are superior pets anyway.