Deal With The Devil (Dramione)

Chapter Two: Checking In

            Hermione sat at her desk, sketching out her plans for the department. Draco hadn't been lying when he said the position and department were new – she was literally starting from the ground up.

Inspecting her handiwork, Hermione grinned. Things were finally starting to take shape.

"Hermione," her assistant Veronica (SHE GOT AN ASSISTANT) said, poking her head into the office. "You have a visitor."

Expecting Harry or Ron, who had both promised to take her out to lunch today, she said, "Send them in." Hermione lifted her head with a grin when the door opened further, which quickly turned into a scowl. Malfoy strode in and stopped right before her desk.

"So?" he asked, quirking an eyebrow.

"So what?"

"Is everything to your liking?"

Hermione blinked at him.

"Wow, I seem to be rendering you speechless quite a lot. Where's my trophy for making Hermione Granger silent when a question is asked?" He smirked at her.

"Everything is perfect, Mr. Malfoy." She almost choked at the address but knew she had to force it out.

"Mr. Malfoy is my father. Call me something else."

"Everyone here calls you Mr. Malfoy; what are you talking about?" Hermione asked.

He ran his hand through his hair, and Hermione tried not to stare at the ruffled look he had unintentionally created. It was... appealing. She shook her head at the thought. She did not find anything about Malfoy attractive.

"We have a history, Hermione. It's weird."

"Okay, Malfoy," she drawled, "if you call insist, I'll call you something else. Like ferret."

Hermione watched in interest as Malfoy shuddered. "Why don't you just call me Draco."

Staring at him in shock, Hermione didn't know how to respond. "But you're my boss," she spluttered.

"So?"

"So that's just not done! Everyone will think you're playing favorites! I just let that situation. I'm not going back to it!"

Malfoy rolled his eyes. "Fine. Just Malfoy is fine."

Hermione nodded. "Now, what do you actually want?"

Clutching his chest, Malfoy gasped. "You wound me! Can't I just want to check in on my newest employee?"

"Do you do this with all your employees?"

Malfoy cleared his throat. "Um..."

"That's what I thought." Hermione smiled smugly up at him for her seat.

He strode into the room until he was in front of her desk. With each step forward, his casual demeanor dropped farther away. "I'm really checking on you, Hermione. I know this is a huge adjustment and very sudden, and I just wanted to make sure you were okay. I – I mean Malfoy Industries – really want you here."

The intensity in his eyes stopped Hermione from forming some snappy retort. For once, Draco Malfoy was completely serious. Flustered, she stammered, "Yes, well, it's been lovely, I mean, it's only been half a day and well." She stopped. Taking a deep breath, she said, "Everything has been wonderful."

Malfoy smiled at her brightly, and Hermione had to glance away. It was so odd to see him without his usual smirk, and she was unprepared for her heart to flip over.

Before Malfoy could respond, Veronica poked her head back around the door. "A Mr. Potter and a Mr. Weasley are here to see you, Hermione."

"They can come in; they always can, no need to make then wait." Veronica nodded and smiled, opening the door for Harry and Ron to enter. They stopped and scowled when they realized Malfoy was alone with her. Hermione groaned, and Draco quirked an eyebrow at her.

"What's he doing here?" Ron demanded, pointing an accusatory finger at Malfoy.

The last trace of his smile was replaced by his usual sneer. "Last time I checked, this is my company, my building, and my employee. The fuck you mean 'What am I doing here'?" Draco scoffed.

Harry put a hand on Ron's shoulder, who had taken a step forward. "He has a point, Ron."

Surprise flashed across Malfoy's face at the words. "Thank you, Potter."

Everyone in the room stared at him as if he had suddenly turned into Fluffy. After a moment, Potter gruffly said, "No problem."

"Come on, Hermione," Ron said, walking over to her desk and grabbing her hand. "Let's go eat."

As she passed him, Draco shot out his hand and grabbed her arm. "We aren't done discussing things, Hermione. Understand?" there was a dark look in his eyes that sent a shiver down her spine.

"Okay."

As she exited her office, she glanced back to find Draco staring at her desk, his brow furrowed.

When they got to the street and started walking towards a tucked-away café, Harry asked, "What was that about?"

"I have no idea."

"I don't like the way he was looking at you," Ron said, dropping her hand.

"Is that way you grabbed my hand?' Hermione asked, smiling at the uncomfortable expression on Ron's face.

Turning as red as his hair, Ron mumbled an apology. After their break up several years ago, Ron had become awkward about platonic touching. He rarely gave her a proper hug, let alone hold her hand.

"The git just infuriates me," he grumbled.

"Well, that git is now my boss."

"What was he doing in your office?" Harry prompted.

Hermione sighed. "Well, first of all, his office is at the end of the hall. And second, he was simply checking in on me to see if everything was alright what with the sudden change." She glanced at her friends to see their astounded expressions.

"He didn't."

"He did."

"That's so... nice of him?" Harry sounded unsure.

Thinking back over their conversation, Hermione could tell Draco had been sincere with his concern. "It was."

"Doesn't mean I like him," Ron spat.

"That doesn't matter, Ron." Hermione rounded on him. "When you come to my office, you will treat the man with respect. He is the bloody owner and my boss."

Ron scoffed but didn't say anything else under her glare. "Same goes for you, Harry."

Harry only nodded.

"Good." Arriving at the café, they sat and ate, but Hermione's thoughts were still in her office.