Work
After what felt like a never-ending weekend, Hermione walked into work bright and early on Monday morning. She always loved getting to work earlier than everyone else. There was something about the quietness of a building first thing in the morning. It was peaceful.
She made it into her private office and propped the door open before taking her seat behind her desk. A lot of people like to have their doors shut but Hermione liked feeling a part of what was going on outside of her office.
After Cassie was born, Hermione started at the Ministry under the Department of Magical Creatures. She enjoyed the job, but she didn't feel as though she was really being challenged, so, she switched over to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Under the department, she was located in the office for the Removal of Curses, Jinxes, and Hexes.
It's hard to explain Hermione's title in a short sentence so, when people ask, she just tells them she works under the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Unless, of course, they ask for her full title.
Both Ron and Harry liked to make fun of her for it. They believed that no one should have such a long title. They felt that there should be a more simple term for her position like they have with being an Auror. Of course, they have come up with multiple names; R.C.J.H., Remover of Bad Things, Bad Surprises, Removal of things that could hurt you, etc.
Hermione didn't care what people called it because it was the place she felt most peaceful. She always felt best when she was surrounded by work, that could be because it was a way to keep her mind from wandering about other things, but mostly she liked the work.
Every morning before work she grabbed her coffee at 7:00 and is in her office by 7:30. Her division doesn't have to be at work until 8:00 but again, she liked the peace and quiet of the early morning. The moment before the floor flooded with people and noise.
She was a co-head of the branch. Hermione was moved up to the position after only five years of working in the division. Her partner, or the other co-head, was an older gentleman named Philip Holmes. He had told her just a month ago that he was going to be retiring once they found someone to cover his position.
Hermione liked working with him, it was kind of like having a work dad. They were supposed to be having a going-away party for him sometime soon to celebrate his fifty-two years of work at the ministry. While Hermione loved working with him, she was ready for someone new, and hopefully young, that had a fresh mind.
She liked having wise conversations with Phillip because of how much knowledge he held. With a new person coming in, she was going to have to show him, or her, the ropes of the job. She wasn't sure if they were going to be moving someone up, or bringing someone in, but either way, she was ready and excited for the challenge.
Hermione was pulled from her thoughts when somebody knocked on her open door. She looked up to see Harry standing there with his arms crossed. "Harry?"
"Why that is my name." Harry smiled and went to sit down in the chair in front of her desk. "I had some news I thought you would like to know."
Hermione sat up straight in her chair. "News?"
Harry nodded. "No one is supposed to know this, but I have heard that they found someone to fill Phillip's position."
Hermione's eyes flew wide open. "What? Who? Do I know them? Do you know them?-"
Harry put his hands up as if he was surrendering. "Hey, calm down. I don't know anything other than the position being filled. I'm sure you'll know more before I do."
She sunk into her chair letting out a loud sigh. "Well, if they filled the position then Phillip should tell me by the end of the day." She groaned, leaning her head back and closing her eyes.
"What?" Harry furrowed his eyebrows.
Hermione took a deep breath. "It's just," She sat forward, leaning on her desk. "I've been waiting for this day but now I'm nervous. What if they're terrible and not what I thought? What if I don't like them? What if they try to take control of situations when we're supposed to be partners?"
Harry sighed. "'Mione, I think you'll be fine. If anything, the person will probably be intimidated by you."
She ran her hand over her face and into her hair. "Maybe I can beg Phillip to stay."
Harry laughed, standing up from the chair. "Yeah, I'd like to see you try that." He walked over to the entryway and looked back at Hermione. "Don't hate the person before you even get the chance to meet them. You have to go in with an open mind."
"Yeah, yeah, I know, Harry." Hermione laid her head on her desk. "I'll be fine."
"I'll see you at lunch?" Harry asked.
Hermione didn't lift her head from her desk as she raised her hand and gave Harry a thumbs up. Soon after she heard his footsteps leaving her office and disappearing down the corridor. She would be fine... maybe. The one thing she could do was bury herself in her work. Soon enough it would be lunch.
She picked up the first case off her stack and opened it. It seemed that the object she would be dealing with today was a cursed Deluminator. According to her file, the owner clicked it open and every candle in the room exploded with fire. She looked at the bottom of the file to see the owner's name and immediately rolled her eyes. Theodore Nott.
Hermione stood up from her desk making sure she had her wand and bag before apparating to Nott Manor. The moment she was in the foyer she yelled for him. "Theo!!"
Theo suddenly appeared walking down the stairwell stuffing his face with a bag of crisps. "Well, hello there, Princess."
Hermione stared at his goofy smile knowing something was going on. "Hi," she said shortly before moving on. "I'm here about the Deluminator."
Theo furrowed his eyebrows before something clicked inside his mind. "Oh! Right! This way." He started walking off toward his drawing room and Hermione followed.
The moment the doors opened Hermione looked at the scene of shattered glass and burn marks displayed around the room. "Okay, so what exactly happened here?" She looked at Theo.
Theo shrugged his shoulder. "I clicked the thing open, and everything went boom." He mimicked the explosion with his hands.
Hermione sighed. "This is the fourth time you've had a cursed object here. Why is this a reoccurring thing?"
Theo looked at Hermione with a smile. "Maybe I just want to see my favorite person."
She rolled her eyes. "Where's the Deluminator?"
"Oh, that?" He laughed. "I don't have one, don't think I ever had."
Hermione looked at him with confusion. "Theo, what do you mean?"
"Oh, well this time I just wanted to see you, but I knew you were working." He started to walk through the destruction.
She froze for a moment. "Wait, so you destroyed your drawing-room?"
Theo nodded. "Why not?"
Hermione let out a loud sigh. "Alright, I'm leaving then."
Theo turned towards her quickly. "No! At least stay for lunch."
"I can't. I have lunch with Harry." She threw the words over her shoulder.
Theo ran up and stood in front of her. "Harry gets to have lunch with you every day. Your other best friend wants to have lunch with you today."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Fine, I'll stay. This was only supposed to be an hour-long case, so you have me for the next two hours.
"Yay!" Theo smiled brightly. "Dolly!"
A small house-elf with a pink bow popped into the room. "Dolly is here- Ms. Granger! Oh, Dolly is happy to see you! Dolly will prepare pumpkin soup and the roasted potatoes and-"
"That sounds wonderful, Dolly." Hermione cut the small elf off before she continued on for another five minutes.
The moment Theo inherited the Manor, he freed all of his elves but each and every one of them stayed. Was this because Hermione told him to free them? Maybe, but that's a story for another time.
Theo and Hermione walked into the dining room after the elf had popped out of the room. The moment they took their seats Theo started talking. "So... How has it been?"
Hermione squinted her eyes. "You're being weird."
"What? No, I'm not." Theo started to fidget with his fork.
"Yes, you are." She paused. "You never ask me questions like that. So, what is it?"
He shook his head. "Nothing. I just wanna know what's been going on. We haven't seen each other in a while."
"Theo, we saw each other the day before Cassie left because you knew you wouldn't be able to make it to King's Cross." She paused when a light bulb went off in her head. Her entire face dropped, and the room fell completely silent.
Theo stared at her with a face she had only seen a few times in their friendship. No smile, just wonder.
Hermione looked down at her plate. "Have you seen him?" She spoke quietly.
He nodded once. "He came by yesterday."
She furrowed her eyebrows. "I thought he would have come by sooner."
Theo shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know why he didn't, but you were the first one to see him that I know of. Pansy and Blaise still haven't seen him."
Hermione sighed. "He met Cassie."
Theo let out a small laugh. "Yeah, I know. I'm so glad my favorite person told me that beforehand so that I wasn't blindsided."
Hermione looked at him and then down to the table like a child who had just gotten caught doing something bad. "Sorry."
Theo leaned back in his chair. "You better be. I had to learn that from someone I haven't seen in over a year."
Her head shot up with wide eyes. "A year?!"
Theo's face was pure fear. "Uhm- I mean- heh"
"Theodore Sileo Nott! You mean to tell me that you lied to me!" Hermione was on the edge of her seat.
"You didn't have to bring out the middle name." He said under his breath.
The food had materialized at the perfect moment for Hermione to grab a dinner roll and throw it directly at Theo's face.
"Okay, I'm sorry!" He threw his hands up in surrender. "He didn't want me to say anything to you, but of course, I would go and visit my Godson."
Hermione's mouth fell completely open. "So, you chose his side over the person who actually stuck around over the past eleven years! AND you're his child's Godfather?"
"Well, you made Harry Cassie's Godfath-" He stopped when he saw another dinner roll in Hermione's hand. "Okay fine, just calm down and I will tell you everything."
Hermione sighed out of anger but rested back in her seat. "Fine."
Theo took a deep breath. "Firstly, I'm not on sides. You two are both my best friends and of course, I went and visited my Godson. Secondly, I wanted to tell you, but he told me not to."
"Why?" Hermione said shortly.
Theo was hesitant, deciding whether he was going to tell the truth or not. "He didn't want to disturb you or Cassie by even just hearing his name. He wouldn't let me talk about the two of you when I was there because he was scared of what he might do."
"Like what?" She furrowed her eyebrows.
Theo groaned. "If you repeat any of this to him, I will kill you." He waited for her to nod before he continued. "He believed that if he knew anything about the two of you then he would pack a bag and be here within minutes."
Hermione thought about it for a moment. "Why is that a bad thing?"
He sighed. "He didn't want to suddenly come into Cassie's life and mess everything up."
Hermione slowly nodded. "He said that to me." She knew that Draco had already told her all of this, but she was almost wishing that Theo knew more.
Theo relaxed in his seat. "If it makes you feel any better, almost every time I was with him, I gave him hell about leaving you and Cassie behind."
Hermione gasped. "That does not make me feel any better, Theo! I have told you multiple times that I was okay with his decision."
He rolled his eyes. "Yes, I understand, but you know since I found out I have never understood how a man can leave behind a child."
Hermione sighed. "I know it's been a problem for you, but it was Malfoy's decision to make, and I respected that."
Theo played with his food with his fork. "Yup, well I'm still never going to let him forget what he did."
Hermione sent him a small smile. "Whatever makes you happy, Theo."
~
Hermione was sitting in her office after getting back from the Manor when Phillip walked into her office
"Ms. Granger." The older gentleman was wearing his bright smile.
Hermione smiled up at him. "You know I always tell you to call me Hermione."
Phillip laughed. "My old manors won't ever leave me, Ms. Granger."
Hermione let out a small laugh. "Well, what can I do for you, Philip."
"I'm sure you may have heard that I have found my replacement." He paused. "Even though I wanted to be the first to tell you."
Hermione's stomach dropped. After being at the Manor, she had forgotten what Harry had told her earlier in the day. "Yes, I did."
Phillip walked more into her office with his hands clasped behind his back. "Well, he is in my office right now and I wanted to introduce the two of you. I will be sticking around for the next week to show him the ropes but then I'm off to Italy."
The only thing that stuck to her in those words was, "So it's a guy?"
Phillip nodded. "Why yes, Ms. Granger, it is. I believe the two of you actually went to school together."
A list of names started to run through her head.
"Shall we?" Phillip gestured his hand out of the office.
Hermione stood from her chair and followed behind him. His office was right next door to hers, so it wasn't a far walk. She kept thinking of names, but she knew each of their jobs already. Neville: Professor, Harry: Auror, Ron: Auror, Seamus: Pub Owner, Blaise: Potioneer, Theo: Nothing, Cormac: last she heard he was in the states.
"Ms. Granger, I believe you know-"
Hermione looked up and knew the instant she saw the hair. "Malfoy."
Draco stood from a chair that resided in the office and faced her with a small but thin smile. "Granger."
Phillip clasped his hands together. "I see you two remember each other." He walked behind his desk. "That's a good thing since you two are now partners."
Hermione stared at Draco with disbelief as he stood there awkwardly.
Phillip continued. "As I told the both of you, I will be sticking around for the next week to show Mr. Malfoy the ropes." He looked up and saw the two staring at each other oddly. "Please, take a seat." He gestured to the two chairs in front of his desk.
Hermione snapped out of her trance and went to sit down, Draco followed her. Out of all of the people who could have been assigned, it had to be Draco.
"Mr. Malfoy here worked at the French Ministry as an Auror for six years before transferring to the Removal of Curses, Hexes, and Jinxes office. After talking to his advisor, I feel he will be the perfect fit for the job, and I believe you two will get along well." He smiled at the two.
Hermione mentally rolled her eyes. Get along well? Hilarious. If only you knew, Phillip, if only you knew. "Though it is quite a surprise," She gritted out, looking at Draco who was still wearing a smile before turning back to Philip. "I believe we will be fine."
"It's an honor to be accepted for this job, Mr. Homles. I believe Ms. Granger and I will get along perfectly." Draco smiled, yet again, at Hermione.
It was nice to know Draco was still the same prat he was in school. Hermione stared into his eyes hoping he could hear everything she was thinking.
"Looks like I've found the perfect fit then." Phillip turned to Draco. "Well, with it being close to the end of the day, I will start showing you around tomorrow."
Draco stood from his chair and put his hand out. "Sounds good. Thank you, again."
Phillip shook his hand with a smile. "It's my pleasure."
Hermione stood from her chair. "I will see you tomorrow, Phillip." With that, she and Draco walked out of the office and the moment they were past the threshold she pulled him into her own office. "What the fuck, Malfoy."
Draco lifted his eyebrows. "You have a dirtier mouth than I remember."
Something turned inside Hermione, but she ignored it. "You weren't going to tell me you were applying to my office let alone becoming my partner?!"
He shrugged his shoulders. "I didn't know you worked here. I saw the job offer and thought I would come in for an interview."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Well, this is just great." She walked behind her desk and leaned onto it. "Harry and Ron are never going to let me live this down." She spoke under her breath, shaking her head.
"What was that?" Draco asked, taking a step closer to her desk.
She looked up at him. "Nothing."
"No," He paused. "You said something about the Weaselbee and Potter."
Hermione let out a short sigh, slapping her hands down by her sides. "I said, Harry and Ron, aren't going to let me live this down."
Draco furrowed his eyebrows. "Do they know?" He paused. "About me?"
Hermione bit her lip, crossing her arms. "I told them last night."
He let out a breath. "And?"
"And" She shrugged her shoulders. "Harry won the bet."
Draco froze, his face twisting into confusion. "So, you're telling me that there was a bet placed on who Cassie's father was and Potter chose me?"
Hermione nodded. "Yup. Supposedly he and Ron both thought it might be you."
Draco rubbed his chin. "And they're okay with it?" Hermione nodded and Draco let out a small laugh before he realized something. "Wait, who did the Weasel bet on?"
Hermione's cheeks went red as she tried to keep herself from laughing. "Theo."
"Theo?!" Draco's mouth fell open. "How did he come to that conclusion?"
Hermione sat down in her chair. "He and Harry both thought it might be Theo because he has been around Cassie."
Draco sighed. "Right." He paused, leaning onto the back of one of the chairs in front of her desk. "And how did they come to the conclusion that it was me?"
"Well," She started. "They saw me introducing you to Cassie on the platform, but I guess Harry had figured it out years ago."
"And how did he do that?"
Hermione let out a small laugh. "As I said before, she has your eyes."
The corner of Draco's mouth quirked upwards. He looked down at the silver wristwatch on his wrist and realization overcame his face. "I'm running late."
Hermione furrowed her eyebrows. "Where to?"
Draco looked at her with an odd face. She could tell he was trying to wrap his head around something to say. "Just an appointment, nothing special." He sent her a quick smile. "See you tomorrow partner."
Hermione was confused but she bid home a goodbye anyways and watched as he left her office. She was now going to have to work with the father of her child. It would be fine. Maybe...