Chapter 2
Hermione finished the book that night.
Her roommate was barely ever at their apartment, choosing to spend her meager government contracting salary out at the bar instead of on food or savings.
It worked out well for Hermione, though; she didn’t have to hole up in her small, cold room that likely had no insulation in order to escape Lavender and her equally vapid friends. No, she could sit on the surprisingly nice and new couch that they’d gotten off of Craigslist. Her roommate had brought three of her beefy, thankfully sober, friends with them to pick up the couch, thinking they may get murdered.
The fear wasn’t too far off, though; she’d heard horror stories from people who’d gone to pick up furniture only to be invited in for a drink by a lonely 60-year-old man who didn’t have the advertised bed frame anywhere in sight.
So their $25 L-shaped leather couch was where she curled up to read Haidt’s newest book with the knowledge that an inscription reading ‘Congressman Malfoy, I hope you enjoy my newest book. Keep up the good work, we’re counting on you.’ was inside.
Congressman Potter never kept any of the books that he was given, either by those he met with or authors who sent them to the office, but always kept the free candy.
Being the lowest on the office totem pole, Hermione was always last in line for books, which meant the only ones that even came across her desk focused on government conspiracies or were trashy motivational reads. So having this copy in her hands meant a great deal.
After finishing the book, Hermione warred with herself. Did she throw it in her large Kate Spade tote and bring it to work the next day? How would she even get it back to the Congressman?
What if she gave it to Marietta and the girl never handed it back to Rep. Malfoy and he sought her boss out for having a thieving staffer? There were too many possibilities for things to go sideways, so she shoved the book in her bag, carefully covered in a reusable canvas tote she normally used for groceries so that she wouldn’t spill water or food on it.
Hermione brought the book to the press conference, always toting around her most convenient purchase. She’d bought the large purse before her internship at the National Harbor outlets right outside of DC. The $99 large leather Kate Spade tote that was the most expensive piece of clothing she’d ever bought, but also $140 off due to it being two seasons old. Even her logical mind couldn’t turn that down. Nevertheless, she used the bag enough that it had paid off and also allowed her to carry her life around the Capitol complex without juggling papers in her arms like a fool.
Much to her chagrin, she didn’t have the opportunity to talk to Rep. Malfoy as the press conference took place in the middle of a vote series and both members had to rush out and in.
She could see the blond man speaking angrily to a staffer who looked a year or two older than her as he walked down the steps of the Capitol, moving over to the small patch of grass where there were six cameras and ten print journalists milling about.
The House Triangle was a prime spot for a press conference, close enough to the Capitol that there were USCP or Capitol Police everywhere and a beautiful view of the Capitol dome behind them that’d be visible in photos and videos.
Hermione was ignored by her own boss who was deep in conversation with a reporter from the Washington Post as Frank and Tonks stood by in case they needed to interject.
Unlike many unfortunate others, they were lucky to have a boss who didn’t need to be babysat while speaking with reporters. Rep. Potter knew his shtick, and was seasoned enough not to need a reminder of what he should and shouldn’t say.
“Sorry I’m late,” Rep. Malfoy said as he walked up, standing behind the small podium that had a short placard that Tonks had created with a graphic reading “LOWER DRUG COSTS NOW” on it. Simple and to the point.
“Draco, how are you?” Rep. Potter greeted, waving off the reporter and moving to shake his colleague’s hand jovially.
Hermione was impressed by how Members of Congress put on such a great show of friendship; it had her thinking twice about boy bands like One Direction and show casts like Gossip Girl. Were they actually all friends, or were they just good at pretending?
“I’m well, James. Glad to be here to introduce this bill with you,” Rep. Malfoy replied, always on message. Hermione didn’t allow herself to feel impressed. She didn’t.
“Hi there, Theo Nott,” the lanky, attractive 20-something that came down the steps with Rep. Malfoy greeted, holding out a hand to shake.
“Hello, Hermione Granger with Congressman Potter,” she smiled back, looking down at her camera to ensure both men were in focus. Why Tonks couldn’t take photos, which was her job, Hermione didn’t know. But here she was, and deep down, she was grateful for the chance to watch Rep. Malfoy in action. Rep. Potter too, of course.
“Bless,” the man replied with a breath as he heard who she was with. “Our comms staffer is out sick and our interns are useless, can you send me some photos? Here’s my card.”
“Of course,” Hermione replied, stuffing the card into a small pocket on the side of her bag. Great, now she’d need to focus on both members. And the boy hadn’t even said please; figured.
Hermione stepped away from the other staffer, beginning to snap photos. There was a method to her madness, though to outsiders she problem looked like she was just hopping anywhere and everywhere to get photos. But having pictures at different angles, high, low, with the Capitol in the background, standing behind the multitude of cameras with a focus on the two speakers… it gave them material to use for press today and far into the future.
As Tonks had told her, there were never enough candid photos of the congressman to share on social media with random posts and in newsletters, so Hermione did her best to build their gallery up.
After Rep. Potter spoke, he introduced Rep. Malfoy and the blond stepped up to the podium.
Hermione continued to snap photos, wanting to impress the man with her mediocre talent. She assumed he’d been yelling at Theo because no one would be there to take photos. Maybe she could save the day.
She was no comms staffer, but she knew enough to know that a tree falling in the forest didn’t matter if no one was there to hear the sound or see it. So a press conference with no video or photos? Especially on a bipartisan bill as important as this one? She’d be pissed too if she were him.
By the time they’d wrapped up, she had incredible photos of the man, both with her boss and without him. She’d also taken it upon herself to grab two boomerangs, knowing the man had an Instagram following of over 3 million, the most of any Member of Congress. She may have been one of the masses who waited to see what he’d post next.
“Get some good ones, I hope?” Theo asked with a lazy smirk.
“I did, I’ll edit and send them over shortly,” Hermione smiled, already thinking through which Lightroom presets she was going to use on the photos.
“Thank you, lifesaver!” Theo replied, walking over to shepherd his boss away from members of the press and back up the Capitol steps.
Hermione’s stomach sunk as the door closed on any potential interactions; he hadn’t even noticed her.
She berated herself for even the thought of something occuring, taking the time to walk outside in the slightly chilly weather back to Rayburn rather than allowing herself the comfort of taking the tunnels back to the office.
Frank, Tonks and Rep. Potter had walked off together, not even asking her if she wanted to walk with them. She wasn’t shocked by that, though; she was new. They’d been together a while, and what would she add to their conversation? Nothing.
Which was what was so frustrating about the business of Draco Malfoy; she was logical, pragmatic, albeit a bit emotional. So why couldn’t she get it through her head that Draco Malfoy was a politician that was born and raised by politicians.
His job was to make people feel comfortable and wanted and special in his sight before moving onto the next meeting, the next donor, and forgetting the conversation he’d had with her or whoever else. It wasn’t that hard to understand, but it was certainly hard for her to swallow.
Hermione let Zacharias know that she’d depend on him answering phones before getting into editing mode, uploading the 123 photos she took and whittling them down quickly.
She prioritized photos for Tonks, stomach fluttering when the woman came around to give her a high-five for the composition and editing of the initial seven images she sent over. Praise felt good.
By the time she’d sent photos and boomerangs to Theo, all of the House cafeterias outside of &Pizza and Subway were closed. She’d been so focused on her book the night before that she hadn’t even put together lunch, something that was completely unlike her.
She didn’t have money to spend on a $13 lunch or the time to walk outside of the Capitol to grab $1.50 chips and salsa from Tortilla Coast, so she took a handful of the Fran’s Chocolates caramels that sat in a basket on her desk for office guests and prayed that they’d get her through the afternoon.
Her colleagues often took candies throughout the day, but this was the first time that Hermione did so. As a Seattle native, she knew how good they were, but honestly, all she could think about was a bowl of pasta.
Her email pinged, and Hermione saw that it was from a Nott, Theodore replying to her photos. The perfectionist in her was fanning itself, nervous of what the man would say. He wasn’t a comms staffer after all, how bad could her photos look to him?
HERMIONE! GRANGER! THESE ARE INCREDIBLE. Hope no one FOIAs this, but… better than Gemma’s pics, tbh. Just sent them to DM, I know he’ll love them. We don’t give pic cred for non-media photos on social, but know in your heart that we are grateful. Thank you!
ABP on me when we’re out of session next?
Thanks again,
Theo
Theodore Nott
Legislative Assistant
Office of Congressman Draco Malfoy (NC-10)
O: 202-555-5500 | C: 202-555-9919
She let out a snort at the man’s flex offering to take her to Au Bon Pain instead of Dunkin Donuts. ABP was the higher end coffee shop in the House side of the Capitol, boasting $4-5 dollar cups of coffee instead of the $2 trash at Dunkin Donuts. Another rich Republican, that didn’t shock her. His last name sounded familiar, too, and she would look it up once she was off her work computer that night.
It took her a few more minutes than she should’ve spent working up a reply, not wanting to sound overly eager or desperate for approval. She, at the end of the day, was a representation of her boss, and always wanted to do him well. That’s all this was.
Hello Theo,
Thanks for the kind words; I’m glad you liked the photos. Would love to get coffee sometime soon. Have a good day!
Best,
Hermione
Hermione Granger
Staff Assistant
Office of Congressman James Potter (WA-07)
O: 202-555-1473
“Oh, Hermione!” Rep. Potter called a while later, peeking his head out of his office. She jumped at the sound, not realizing he was back from votes. Good; she could finally leave and stop filling tour requests for a few hours.
It was early, only 6:30pm, but she was already feeling light headed from lack of food.
“Yessir?” she replied, turning to stand automatically.
“Malfoy came up to me on the floor waxing poetic about some photos you sent his staff from today’s presser. Good girl, brilliant work!” he looked proud of her in a paternal way that had her stomach fluttering. Or was that because Rep. Malfoy had sought out her boss to compliment her?
“Of course, sir. Always happy to help,” she said dutifully.
“Why don’t you blow one of them up and bring it over to his office? He mentioned it’s his first bipartisan bill since joining the committee. Could be nice, right Rem?”
“Very thoughtful,” Remus agreed, clearly sat inside of James’ office. “You can bring it over tonight then go home, Hermione.”
“Let me write up a quick note while you print it off.”
Hermione nodded, printing a glossy 8x10 of Rep. Malfoy speaking while Rep. Potter smiled at him from behind the podium, the Capitol beautiful and gleaming white behind them. Picture perfect.
She used her discretion to take one of the nicer wood frames they had rather than the cheapy black ones that they used when giving photos with the congressman to visiting tourists.
“You’re fast!” the glasses-wearing man crowed, bringing out a short note on a cream colored card he used for his stationary. The thick cardstock had his name at the top along with the Congressional seal and gold foiling. “No need for an envelope, just bring it over.”
Hermione hoped that someone would still be in the office, knowing that a lot of members sent their staff home right at 6pm even when votes were still occurring.
The main door to the man’s office was locked when she tried to jiggle it, but she saw a light under the doorway and knocked anyways. It was worth a try.
The sound of someone unlocking the door sounded before it opened a second later.
“Early tonight, Pettigrew?” the unforgettable voice of Draco called out happily. “Oh… I’m sorry, I thought you were Peter from the night cleaning crew. Come in, Hermione.”
The girl walked in, noticing that the office was dead quiet. No one else was there. Faintly, she was glad she brought her bag so she could return his book.
“Of course, sir,” she replied, the click of the heavy door shutting causing a heavy mix of adrenaline and anxiety to sit in her stomach.
“Call me Draco,” he replied.
“Oh, I couldn’t,” she laughed nervously.
“I insist,” he replied, guiding her into his office and perching himself on the corner of his desk. He was wearing well-tailored black pants, a dark gray button down tucked into them. His trim waist was cinched with what was clearly an expensive leather belt. Her throat felt dry; he wasn’t wearing a jacket, only a button down shirt that had its sleeves rolled up haphazardly. He was hot. So so hot. Hot in a way that she wasn’t prepared for, not when her education taught her that public officials were old and ugly and boring. Draco Malfoy was none of the above.
“Okay… Draco” she replied, testing the name on her lips and in her mind for the first time. It felt like a step too far… but she liked it.
“Good girl,” he replied, the phrase sounding far more sexual than it did coming from her own boss’ mouth only a few minutes ago. She wanted him to praise her again. “What brings you here?”
“I have a gift for you, from Congressman Potter,” she replied, rifling through her bag and carefully removing the note and frame.
“Ah,” Draco replied with a small smile on his lips. “No signature from the artist?”
Hermione let out a giggle. A giggle? Who was she? “No sir.”
“Thank James for me, this is quite thoughtful. We’ll hang it up in here, Lord knows I could use some more personal flavor.”
The man’s office was patriotic, colored in hues of red and blue, but with personal photos scattered throughout.
Him with his father.
Him with his grandfather who’d held the House and Senate seat that he and Lucius Malfoy currently were elected to.
A tiny Draco with Ronald Reagan. Puke.
Him with the Pope.
He had power and was born into power; that alone had Hermione feeling like nothing in his presence.
“Are you Catholic?” Hermione asked as she gazed around the office for the first time, unable to help herself.
“I’m not,” he replied with a smirk, eyes popping down to her cross in the same way they had yesterday. “Good old Southern Baptist boy, but I was honored to meet the Pope regardless. Are you?”
“Not anymore,” she replied with a small smile of her own. “I discovered during college that Catholicism wasn’t really for me when I didn’t have my parents holding my feet to the fire. I found a church out here last summer while interning and became a member a few weeks ago, actually.”
Draco’s eyes lit up at that, a mix between excitement and hunger, two things that a naive Hermione could not place. All she saw was a brightness that wasn’t there before.
“Look at you, stepping out in faith. Must be tough to do,” Draco replied, crossing his arms over his chest.
Hermione shrugged, “Faith is personal, I don’t think God would want me suffering for the sake of my parents and not for Him.”
Draco nodded slowly, calculatingly. “Quite right. I also meant for a Democrat, but same goes. You’re a pleasant surprise, Miss Hermione.”
She stiffened at that, unsure of when things had turned into… this. She felt like a newborn mouse caught by a much larger, smarter tomcat.
“Thank you for stopping in,” Draco replied. “Apologies that it’s just me, I try to get my staff out of here by six when I don’t have evening events.”
“My pleasure,” Hermione replied. “Oh! I have your book.”
“You finished it? In one night?” he asked, raising a brow.
“I… read fast. Eidetic memory,” she shrugged, removing the canvas-covered book from her bag.
“A woman who’s careful with books,” Draco murmured as though he couldn’t help himself, watching intensely as she unwrapped it.
Hermione blushed at that, handing the book back and looking down to ensure she wasn’t making up the way that his hand gently rested over her own. She didn’t; there were long, pale fingers on top of her own much shorter ones, careful and tentative, but there. Without a wedding ring.
“Did you enjoy it?” Draco asked in a normal tone, looking unperturbed at the way Hermione removed her hand.
“It was enriching, but frustrating. He was writing to me, a white person. He wasn’t writing to anyone who has real reasons to be offended by people like Cormac McLaggen or pro-Israel organizations. There’s a difference between my outrage and that of someone’s lived experience.”
“What about Cormac McLaggen’s lived experience, though? Doesn’t that deserve to be valued?”
Hermione snorted despite herself, “Cormac McLaggen is a trust fund child whose parents work for Fox News and essentially bought his platform. Why should he be able to profit off of denigrating others? Saying that homosexuality is a mental illness and that civilian casualties in the Middle East don’t matter… that’s directly speaking against the personhood of others, he deserves to be protested and shutdown. That’s not being a liberal snowflake, that’s standing up for the inherent value of others.”
Draco looked far too amused, and Hermione’s heart stopped for a moment as she realized she was arguing with a Republican Congressman about the merits of one of the right’s most prolific young online presences.
“What about when it comes from the left? Do you think that Christianity should be removed from public spheres of influence because the Bible hurts people’s feelings?”
“Of course not,” Hermione replied, shaking her head. “Do I think that both the left and the right are prone to outrage over topics that don’t warrant it? Sure. Do I believe that McLaggen is a jerk? Sure. Do I believe that cancel culture in my party is rampant and without checks sometimes? Sure. Do I believe that most non-Christian liberals haven’t read the Bible? Absolutely. But I’m also white and educated, my opinion certainly doesn’t matter as much as the people who Haidt’s examples directly impact.”
“So what? We go around in a circle and argue until the end of time?”
“Sure, some are keen to do just that. I’m here to make a difference as best I can, and you can call me an idealist, but I think that when we work together across the aisle we can enact real change. A bill isn’t going to pass the Senate without Republican input when they rule the chamber. We can’t just sit in our corners and expect people’s lives to magically improve. No one will make good on their campaign promises if we don’t work together, and honestly… what good is the government if we just pout and refuse to play ball? If I’m being honest, sir, knowing that elected officials are refusing to sit at the table due to the possibility of knocking heads is simply a disservice to the American taxpayer.”
She looked up with bright red cheeks, knowing that she’d gone on a tangent as she was prone to do. Only this time, it was in front of People Magazine’s Hottest American Bachelor five years in the running and the only person to appear two years in a row on The Hill’s annual 50 Most Beautiful list. Draco Malfoy, the son of the Senate Majority Leader and heir-apparent to his father’s seat. The richest member of the House of Representatives. Draco. Malfoy.
She expected him to laugh in her face; she certainly wasn’t the first silly, idealistic girl to cross his path.
“Your honesty is refreshing,” Draco nodded, eyes far too appraising. Like he could see right through her. He probably could. “No one speaks to me like that anymore.”
“It’s a bad habit that’s been mentioned in every teacher and professorial evaluation I’ve ever received,” Hermione blushed, shuffling from side to side on her bargain bin heels. Could he tell how cheap her clothes were? Did he care?
“I need some more of that in my life.”
Hermione looked up, unsure what to make of his words.
He looked just as uncertain for a moment. “Thank you again for stopping by and taking such good care of my book.”
“Of course, sir,” Hermione replied, knowing professionalism was what the moment warranted. This was only the third time they’d spoken, and it was already dangerous.
She made to walk out of the office, and unlike yesterday, she did her best to inject a subtle sexiness into her walk. Not that she knew what sexy was, but she tried.
“Oh, and Hermione?” he called, already sitting behind his desk with a blue felt tip pen in his hand as though their conversation was a normal occurrence.
“Sir?”
“The photos… they are excellent. It was hard not to watch while you took them,,” Draco replied, looking down at the stack of his paper in front of him as if he were unaffected. Maybe he was. “You are captivating when you’re in your element. I’m glad I had the chance to watch.”
Hermione didn’t have a reply, so she nodded, which he didn’t see, and walked out. She’d only realized that she didn’t bring her flats with her when she was already halfway down the Metro escalator, and resigned herself to blisters that would surely form on the five block walk to her apartment from the Gallery Place Metro stop.
As she sat on the train, a large man breathing heavily as he headbanged in the seat next to her, she realized that she was facing a quandary that she’d never experienced before.
There were no guidebooks for how to navigate what seems to be a mutual sexual attraction to a Member of Congress. She’d have to figure this one out on her own.