an unfortunate partnership
Draco Malfoy certainly couldn’t have foreseen that his future would include working alongside Hermione Granger. But life is strange like that.
“There’s just no way to word this delicately,” Hermione huffed from her desk. Malfoy was sitting in the chair across from her desk and sipping on his tea. “I cannot maintain decorum when people are being treated as animals!”
“Hm.” Draco said unhelpfully. He understood Hermione’s struggle which is why he had absolutely nothing to say. He preferred to work with potions rather than people. His most recent work had been the creation of a potion that completely tamed the wolf inside of a person during a full moon. With Hermione’s help, Draco was hoping the potion could be implemented to help many wizards.
At first, Draco had been hesitant to reach out to Hermione. After all, their history was exactly conducive to a smooth partnership. But after several weeks of internal conflict Draco decided that there was no one better to help him than Hermione Granger. She had always been an advocate for all wizards and creatures, no matter how insane it had seemed at the time. She was now the head of the Magical Creature Protections within the Ministry and Draco had no doubt there had never been a better fitting job for anyone.
When Draco had knocked on her door and proposed his idea, she had seemed rather closed off. But he offered to show her exactly how the potion was made and his files of evidence that the potion was effective, and she was interested. Draco was grateful for the interest, he had expected to be kicked out immediately but instead she had followed him to his tiny potions brewing station in the dungeons of the ministry and watched him diligently. He had studied potions under a mentor in America and he intended to use everything he learned to help people. Hermione was an attentive listener and he maintained that if anyone was going to get werewolves equal treatment, it would be her.
Of course, her academic curiosity did not completely blind side Hermione. Draco knew she wasn’t an idiot and she wasn’t going to trust him immediately. However, he apologized to her for his actions and promised to listen to any of her suggestions on how he could better his own worldview.
After an hour of his desperate apology, Hermione must’ve seen something in his sunken in gray eyes because she accepted his apology. And told him to pull it together. They’d been working together for the past three months and slowly and surely they were becoming, well, friends.
“Alright,” Hermione took a deep breath and picked up her quill, “this proposed bill would make the Wolfsbane Elixir a medical right afforded to all persons affected by lycanthropy.” Hermione shook her head at her own words, “the ministry will never agree to this. They’ve already taken the stance that werewolves are uncontrollable monsters-”
“...which we have proved is not true.” Draco interrupted trying to prevent the woman from completely spiraling. “The potion I’ve developed has been tested and we have all the evidence that they could ask for.”
“I know but we aren’t talking to the most agreeable people.” Hermione said bitterly. “And, no offense, it doesn’t help that this potion was created by you.”
“Yes, I know.” Draco sighed and set his cup down. “I would say we could attribute the potion to someone else-”
“But that would be dishonest. And if it ever came out, it would be a shit show.” Hermione picked up her quill again as if to begin writing but she was interrupted by a bang on the door. “Merlin!” Hermione nearly flung the quill.
The door opened without Hermione requesting anyone to do so, and a short man stood on the other side.
“Is…oh good.” The man ignored Hermione and instead turned to Draco. At the sudden intrusion Draco had stood up and was looking warily at the man. “Thought I might find you here. Draco Malfoy, the minister is requesting you in his office.”
Draco nervously glanced at Hermione. He had never spoken to the minister in person and it did not seem like a good thing to be summoned by him. Ignatius Blanche had been run for Minister on the idea that current and former death eaters would be punished severely. Draco was thankful the election had happened after he had served his year in Azkaban or he was sure he would still be trapped in that hell. While Draco did not oppose the idea of punishing death eaters, he knew from experience it was rather dangerous to gain support from the public by hating a group of people.
“We’re in the middle of something.” Hermione frowned and glared at the man.
“It’s urgent.” The man replied and gestured for Draco to follow as he turned and walked away. Hermione gave Draco a helpless shrug and Draco decided he had no choice but to follow the man.
“Er, what’s this about?” Draco asked, moving quickly to catch up to the short man. For his height, he moved quite quickly. The man neglected to respond and just continued to rush down the hallway. Draco flattened his hair down and nervously straightened his robes. He hated walking around the common hallways of the ministry. Nearly every wizard stared at him as he walked past.
They approached the minister's office and the short man opened the door and gestured for Draco to enter. Draco wiped his palms on his robes and entered, the door slamming shut behind him.
“Malfoy. Sit.” Minister Ignatius Blanche instructed. Malfoy sat in the only non-occupied chair. The other chair was filled with none other than Harry Potter. The one man Draco Malfoy went out of his way to avoid completely within the ministry. Although, now that they were forced to sit next to each other, Draco couldn't help but look. Potter has always been a scrawny kid but even now he was still quite small. He wasn't still incredibly skinny, in fact, his face had a prominent, strong structure that signified Potter had put on some muscle since Draco had last seen him. His hair was still an utter mess but Draco supposed that was one thing that would never change.
“Look, what’s going on?” Potter spoke before Draco could. Minister Blanche gave Potter a disapproving look at his abruptness. Draco, however, was thankful at least one of them was brave.
“There was an incident two nights ago.” Minister Blanche said, speaking slowly, as if rehearsing in his head before he spoke. “A girl was attacked in the forbidden forest.” Draco listened intently and was careful to maintain his composure. Minister Blanche signed and leaned back in his desk chair. “She was attacked by a werewolf who was also attending Hogwarts at the time.”
Draco froze. As far as he was aware there was only one student who was a werewolf. Her name was Lauren Greenmoss and she was one of the first underage wizards to try out his Wolfsbane Elixir. All throughout the trial process, Lauren had maintained her composure, not turning into a wolf, or experiencing any pain.
“Do you know the student who did it?” Potter asked, adjusting his glasses.
“Lauren Greenmoss.” Draco said immediately. “It was her?” He looked to the minister for confirmation. Minister Blanche nodded solemnly. “That makes no sense.” Draco muttered.
“Well, that’s awful and all,” Potter spoke, “but if you know who did it, what am I doing here?”
“That wasn’t the only incident.” Minister Blanche said. Draco felt like sinking into his seat. One werewolf attack was bad enough, but two could completely reverse any progress Hermione had made over her career. “The second incident has an unidentified perpetrator. I need you to find him, Auror Potter.” The minister leaned over his desk and held out a pale yellow file to Potter. Potter accepted the file and then gestured to Draco.
“And what’s he doing here?”
“Mr. Malfoy will be assisting in the investigation.” Minister Blanche said, holding up a hand as both the men began to protest. “That’s final.”
“But, why?” Draco asked, leaning forward.
“Your speciality is werewolves, no?”
“Well, yes.” Draco did not even bother to look at Potter, he could feel his rage radiating off him in waves.
“Then you will assist Auror Potter.” The minister said.
“I don’t need assistance.” Potter said, crossing his arms defiantly.
“This isn’t a negotiation. You will work together or you will both be asked to leave your positions.” At the Ministers words, Draco felt himself paling even more than he thought possible. Potter would never agree to work with him and all the hard work Draco had gone through would add up to nothing. He would lose his job and-
“Fine.” Potter snapped, standing up. “Let’s go, Malfoy.”
Draco looked up at the man and then back at the minister. Both men seemed to be waiting for his reaction.
“Okay,” Draco stood up slowly. “Let’s go.”