Silver Ties

After stopping by my flat to get dressed properly and clean up a bit, I made my way to work. I was a bit early but not shockingly so. I have nights like that every so often but this one was weirder than the others.

I dropped the muffin on Graham’s desk and he gave me and the little pink bag a warely look before opening it. “What’s this?”

“The muffin you wanted.”

He raised a brow at me but didn’t respond, instead choosing to just eat it.

We worked quietly for a while. He was giving me weird looks every now and then but didn’t voice any questions he might have, to which I was grateful for. Miles joined us a little later and also kept quiet. But he knows about my awful relationship with sleep. He’s stayed up with me a couple times when I used to crash at his place.

We got through an entire profile of one of the most popular death eaters. It doesn’t sound like a lot but we have to go through all the information we have about every incident this guy was involved in. We finished a little after lunch, leaving all of us hungry and annoyed. Our accomplishment wasn’t worth enough to keep Miles and Graham from starting a hunger driven argument.

But then Annie showed up with a very large bag of chinese takeout food and silenced them both.

She came over and wrapped an arm around my neck and kissed my head. I gave her a tired smile back before she went on and did the same with Graham.

“I love you so much,” Miles sighed, kissing her temple when she sat down next to him. The two of them started handing out the food.

“I love you more,” I shook my head, closing my eyes and smelling the steam rolling off my brown rice.

Graham nodded along. “You’re my favorite, ever.”

Annie rolled her eyes but nodded back. “You’re welcome.”

Miles grabbed her chair and pulled her closer to him, as close as the chairs would allow. “How’d you know we were starving?” He kissed her cheek before reaching for a spring roll, kissing her again before inhaling it. “Could you feel my suffering all the way from Diagon Alley?”

“Obviously,” She smiled, brushing his hair back from his face.

Annie recently opened a cozy book store in Diagon Alley. On my days off I used to help her out with the books. We both had the same idea to organize them alphabetically as opposed to by size like Miles suggested. She preferred my help over his with that kind of stuff. I enjoyed keeping busy and getting closer to the two of them.

Miles and I were friends in school but as the war approached I pushed everyone away and kind of shut down. So when he showed up at my hearing and said I could stay with him and Annie I was very grateful. I was a complete mess for weeks and they were both there for me through a lot of it.

I felt a lot less guilty when I got my own place because then I could lie and say that I’m doing better. But based on the look Annie was giving me right now I could tell she knew something was up.

I’m not as good at hiding it as I thought. That or it's more obvious than I know.

I smiled at her to try and make us both feel better.

“Have you guys heard about Malfoy and Granger?” Graham asked.

Miles laughed and hit the table. “I know right? That’s crazy.” He shook his head and laughed again.

“I don’t know, it makes a lot of sense to me,” Annie shrugged, reaching for soy sauce.

Graham scoffed. “What? How so?”

“They were both top of every class in school, both extremely good at their jobs, and well they’re both beautiful.” She said the last one like it was obvious. It was.

Miles gasped and looked over at her. “You don’t mean that do you? Malfoy?” He looked appalled and betrayed.

“Oh don’t you even start with me.” She scoffed. Miles looked like he was going to say something else but she beat him to it. “Cho Chang?”

Miles’ previous words fell from his mouth. “That was forever ago, Annie, we weren’t even together then.” He whined.

“She was my best friend!”

“I’m sorry, I don’t know what else to say.”

Graham looked over at me and blinked slowly. He cleared his throat. “Anyway, I think they make a weird pair.”

“Well I can think of another weird pair,” Miles smirked and looked directly at me with implications I do not like.

“Adrian and Ramona? I never really thought about it before but, you know what?” I tapped my chin and nodded. “You’re right.”

He rolled his eyes at me. Graham gave me a weird look but didn’t comment.

________________________________________

“How have you been, Mattheo?” Arthur smiled.

I finished the cup of water, trying to get the taste of the tea from my mouth, wearing a grimace the whole time. I shook my head. “I hate that question.”

He nodded, taking a biscuit from the assortment I brought him. “I’m aware.”

“I’m fine?” I shrugged. “I’m… the same as I’ve always been.”

“Do you remember what you said the first time I asked you that question?”

“I don’t want to know.” I looked to the floor as I frowned. I was not kind to him during our first couple sessions. He’s witnessed me going through just about every emotion there is. He’s one of the only people who’s seen me cry. It was when we started to get into the subject of the Battle of Hogwarts. More specifically, what I did and what I ‘had to do’. Arthur says that I didn’t have a choice but I disagree.

He smiled softly. “I am quite used to that type of behavior.”

I bit down on my tongue, thinking for a moment. “Do you– does Malfoy come here?”

A curious expression appeared on his face. “I can’t answer that.”

I sighed and tried again. “Are you the only therapist for… people like us– me?”

“Why? Do you want a different one?”

“No,” I scoffed. “He just– he’s not like me but he’s closer than anyone else, and he’s…. doing okay.”

“Is he?”

“I don’t think Hermione Granger would be with him if he wasn’t.” I dragged my hands down my face and mumbled. “It’s not fair.”

Arthur nodded, understanding what I was implying. But there was my mistake because then he used this as an opportunity to bring up the subject I’d been dreading and ignoring.

“Have you made any progress?” And he didn’t have to elaborate because he knew that I knew, he even noticed when I realized my mistake. That’s most definitely the reason for his ever so present smile.

“...Ramona is going to join us at the pub on Tuesday.” I offered lamely but then Arthur just kept on with his smile and his kind eyes. “I know, I know, I just– it feels wrong with anyone else.”

“I don’t expect you to get into a real relationship, that was never what I meant, it just needs to convince people.”

I shrunk in my seat much like a child. “Convince her…”

He tilted his head at me. “I thought you would like having the chance to try and make her jealous.”

I scoffed. “She wouldn’t be jealous.”

“We shall see.”

_____________________________________

I was on my feet in seconds when I heard Ramona’s heels. Graham was in the archives with Warrington again so there was no need to be sneaky about it.

She gave me a knowing look but didn’t object to me joining her. She was expecting me, and who would I be to mislead her expectations?

I was just about to ask her about her morning when I saw a flash of something out of the corner of my eye. I look down at her hand and see a little gold band on her pinky finger.

My chest tightens and I immediately assume the worst. “Did he get your ring size wrong?”

Her head snapped over to me, a somewhat shocked look painted over her features. “Sorry–?”

I pick up her hand and run my finger over the ring, looking at her and waiting for an answer I probably don’t want. Because that does seem like something he would do. He’s quite insufferably idiotic.

“Oh,” She takes her hand back and then rolls her eyes, sighing. “It’s not an engagement ring.”

“No?” I didn’t hide the fact that I was relieved.

“Just a gift.”

I nod as we step into the lift. “I thought you liked silver?”

She slowly looked back over at me, her expression unreadable. She was quiet for a moment too long and I feared that I made a mistake in saying that.

“... I like both.” She shrugs eventually, not moving her gaze from me.

My eyebrows twitch, “Oh.” I try to recall any time I’ve seen her wear gold but I come back empty handed. And then I frown at the ground because I must not be as observant as I originally thought.

When the lift opened I realized that she had continued to look at me even after I’d looked away. She snapped out of whatever daze she was in and stepped out, me right behind her.

Once we got in the long line she seemed… normal again. That’s what I’ll call it.

“How’s the Dolohov case going?” She asked, surprising me. She’s not the one usually starting the conversations. Not that she never has, what with her manners and all.

I scrunch my nose in disgust and groaned.

“That’s about the same thing Graham said.” The corner of her mouth turned up.

“He gets sloppy with it sometimes and so we’ll find him soon enough.” I shrugged.

“Graham mentioned that you don’t think he’s working alone?”

I scoffed, “I know he’s not. Neither of them know him like I do, I mean that’s the whole point of me being here, and they don’t believe me because there’s no evidence that says he’s anything but alone. He’s not smart enough to stay hidden for this long, there’s definitely others.” I sighed and then looked up at her. Her eyebrows were raised slightly.

“Sorry, It’s all just… a lot.” I shove my hands in my pockets and turn away for a brief moment to react to my dumb rant physically. Is it obvious that I don’t have anyone to talk to about this kind of stuff? Or any stuff, really.

Well Arthur, but he doesn’t want to listen to me talk about work, Although sometimes he’ll allow a little rant about Ramona. He treats them like rewards.

“I get it– as much as I can,” She adds quickly, not wanting me to think she’s pretending to know what it's like to know. “Actually I can’t imagine how hard it must be.”

I glance back at her and she’s giving me the same look she gave me the other day, when I spaced out.

“No it’s fine, it’s– fine.” She tilted her head to meet my eyes but I knew if I met them again I’d tell her anything she wanted to hear, even some stuff she wouldn’t. And she knows she has that effect on me, she’s trying to get me to talk about my feelings in the middle of the line at the ministry cafe.

Sneaky women.

“Any plans for tomorrow, Ramona?”

She gave me a sideways look. “Not after eight.”

I held back a smile but failed. My curfew. “Oh?”

“Yeah, child birthday party.” She nodded and I rolled my eyes.

“Okay.” I stepped further in line, dismissing her, still smiling because she could say anything to me and I’d be happy to hear it.

We ordered our coffees and then made our way back up to the fifth floor. The lift we entered had a couple people in it so we kept quiet. Instead I just opted to admire her features quite openly. She knew I was looking but she just continued to stare straight ahead.

The lift stopped at the third floor, everyone but the two of us getting out. I probably wouldn’t have looked away from Ramona had I not seen a bright blond head enter the lift out of the corner of my eye. Malfoy looked at me as the metal gate slid shut. He froze slightly, moving his gaze over to Ramona for only a moment.

He cleared his throat and nodded at us before stiffly turning to face the front of the lift.

Gods, if someone were to report us being in here together? It’d be up to Ramona whether or not we’d be going back to Azkaban.

I swallowed hard and looked to the ground, shoving one hand into my pocket to make a fist without it being noticed. It’s probably just me but the air is starting to feel thick?

It felt like an hour had gone by in the time it took to get to the fourth floor where Malfoy got off. He hesitated a moment before stepping out, he turned back around and looked at me again.

It wasn’t until now that I noticed he had two coffees and a little brown bag in his hands. I gave him a wary look, unsure of what he could possibly have to say to me.

“Happy birthday, mate.” He turned and headed into the Department of International Magical Cooperation. Where Granger worked.

He didn't give me time to respond. I’m not sure that I would’ve.

We didn’t speak until we got to my desk. I stayed quiet because I couldn’t stop thinking about what Malfoy said and why he said it. She stayed quiet because she could tell it affected me and she wasn’t sure what she could say to change the subject or if she should.

Just a guess.

“Good luck with the case.”

I pushed all my surface thoughts down and tilted my head, smiling. “Thank you.”

I watched her walk off until Graham stepped into my line of sight with an unhappy expression.

Uh oh.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” His arms crossed over his chest.

I swallowed and looked anywhere but at him.

“We have a meeting in ten minutes, why are you just standing around?”

So he didn’t see me gawking at his sister?

“Get your shit and let's go.”

“Oh,” I said dumbly, grabbing the folders on my desk and tucking them into my bag. He sighed and led the way. The whole way there I was thinking about how I almost just got murdered. Or at least I thought I was gonna get murdered.

Every so often we have meetings with the DMLE. We basically give them all the information we’ve gathered and then they go and find the witches and wizards and bring them in, taking all the credit.

Miles and Graham are Aurors in every sense minus the field work. Neither of them were interested in that part. As much as they complain about it, they prefer to work behind a desk.

Not me though, but I don’t have a choice. I didn’t get options to choose from, I wasn’t released from Azkaban for good behavior. They took me out because they needed my brain to pick at. I know full and well they would’ve just taken my memories and used a pensive if the idea wouldn’t have already got shut down. Not that that would stop the Wizangamot but, Minister Shacklebolt is not someone you want to cross. He was the leader of the resistance for a reason, he’s not so easily fooled.

The Golden Trio was alway a sore sight. I may not have agreed with my father’s ideals but that didn’t mean I didn’t think those three were insufferable. Graham and Miles felt the same. Their sour expressions were enough to give that away.

Jade and Ophelia were like Malfoy and I. We all did the same work but just on different floors. Best not to put us together because who knows what kind of evil we’d get up to. These meetings were the only time I’d ever see them. Well actually once I saw Jade outside of the bookstore I’ve been wanting to go visit, and that is the exact reason I’ve yet to go in.

Granger wasn’t an Auror but she got pulled into this because the death eaters are causing problems all over the world and as head of DIMC, Ministers from all over are complaining to her.

Head of the DIMC at what? Twenty?

Kill me.

It’s not as though she doesn’t deserve it. She’s brilliant, of course, but still.

Ophelia gives a very brief summary about their assigned death eater, she then slides four pages of notes to Potter. They leave and then it’s our turn.

Graham starts talking about everything we’ve gathered and I sit there quietly as gingerfuck silently picks me apart. Same as every meeting, and I do my part and pretend not to notice because I have to “behave” like Graham told me to.

Like I’m a child.

Granger pulls out a little notebook and starts taking notes. She’s gotten used to us not bringing neat little notes for her. Miles tried once but his penmanship is awful.

“It shouldn’t be long before he messes up, and when he does we’ll find him. We’ve narrowed it down to two abandoned buildings.” Graham explained, and he was going to continue but Miles cut him off.

“Actually I’m not too sure about the one on Wenbee, I went and checked it out–”

“You what?” Graham asked quietly, turning to look at Miles. His left eye started twitching.

“Off the clock steakout,” Miles shrugged, not seeing the problem.

Graham’s eyes widened and he glanced over at Granger for a moment before grabbing Miles’ tie and hauling him up and out of his seat. “Excuse us,” He mumbled, before taking him out into the hallway.

Granger and Potter shared a look I didn’t want to understand. I looked down at the table and saw my folders. They never get opened during these meetings because Graham said he’d sooner eat a rock then share my ideas and thoughts at a meeting.

But he’s not here right now and usually I’d just stay quiet but I know I’m right and this is most definitely the only chance I’ll ever get. Malfoy is on the same floor as Granger so I’m not allowed there. And no way I would tell Potter or Weasley about it. In one ear and out the other, I swear.

“Um,” I started and then cringed at myself because wow, how professional.

Granger’s eyebrows rose in surprise. I wouldn’t say I’ve never spoken at a meeting but… I’ve never spoken at a meeting.

“I have a few things to add, if that’s alright.”

Granger smiled lightly and nodded. “Of course.”

“I don’t have any official evidence… or unofficial, but I’ve known Dolohov for years. I know him more than I know my… parents.” I hesitated a moment for multiple reasons. The biggest one being embarrassment.

“I know he’s not working alone, he may be talented with curses but there’s nothing going on upstairs. There’s no way he’s doing all of this by himself. My guess, maybe Yaxley or Rosier— not Evan —his son— Thomas. Maybe even Jugson. They were all rather smart and they’re all still out there.” I glanced over at Potter as I said it. He blinked back at me.

Granger nodded, adding the names to her notes. “I came to the same conclusion, I was interested in seeing what you three thought, mostly you, I figured you’d have names.”

Oh.

I nodded back and swallowed. “I wouldn’t be surprised if a group was forming so you guys might want to act quickly.” I would really like new assignments.

“Eager to get back to Azkaban?” Weasley bit, glaring at me.

“Honestly Ron,” Granger sighed.

I looked over at him and snorted. “I’m not going back.”

All three of them looked at me in unison. “What?” Granger asked with a shocked expression.

“I bargained for a better deal.” That didn’t seem like a good enough answer so I went on. “I know more than your boyfriend, I know more than any of them. I’m a more valuable pawn and I know that, so I changed the deal.”

Weasley looked annoyed and crossed his arms like a child. The look on Granger’s face was far past shock, and it made me realize something.

“...Malfoy has to go back?”

“No.” She blurted. “He’s not going back.” Before I could say anything further she stood up which caused the other two to do the same.

“Thank you Riddle, good work.” She smiled, gathering her things. I flinched at the name but nodded.

Before the door shut on their way out I heard Graham apologize to Granger and say that Miles just thought he was being funny. She brushed it off, seemingly still bothered by what I asked.

So Malfoy is going back after all this? Granger is either in denial or she’s thinking she can change it. That she can save him with her status or maybe her Order of Merlin, or maybe just her brain.

I think I kinda hope she can do it?