Betrayal - A Dramione Story

The Interview and More Shocks

Previously:

"Miss Granger, Mr.Malfoy will see you now,"

Hermione took a deep breath and stepped into Malfoy's office. She had expected it to be dark and green but was pleasantly surprised when she saw that they were in fact a soft grey color. "Miss Granger, please sit down" came a voice. Hermione immediately looked behind her to find none other than Malfoy himself sitting. Wow. Quite Handsome. Hermione immediately jerked and shook her head. Did I actually just call Malfoy HANDSOME? Hermione tentatively made her way to the chair in front of Malfoy's desk and sat down. She still had her wand in her hand and was gripping it tightly. "Mr.Malfoy, shall I get some tea?" Ava asked, coming in. "Yes, Ava. That will be fine. And Miss Granger, do you want some tea?" Draco said, calmer than he felt. Hermione raised her eyebrows. Since when did Malfoy get nice? She thought. "Miss Granger!" came Malfoy's voice. "Uh...What?" Hermione asked stupidly. "Would you like some tea?" Draco repeated. "Tea will be great, thank you," Hermione said politely. Draco nodded at Ava and she was off. Once Ava went out, Draco leaned forward, his hands on his desk. "So...Granger...How have you been?" Draco asked, the last part a bit hesitantly. This threw Hermione more under the bus. "Um...O-Okay, I guess..." She trailed off, still on high alert for any movement from Malfoy. 

Draco noticed Hermione's stiff movements and sighed. "Look, before we start the interview, I just want to apologize," he said. "Excuse me, what?!" Hermione said, a look of bewilderment on her face. Draco nodded and continued. "I was really an ass when I was younger, and I just want to apologize for all those harsh things I said to you. I was taught from a young age to look down on Muggle Borns, but I was wrong. Just because your parents are Muggles doesn't mean that I am better than you. In fact, you have proven throughout school that you are better than me. I was always one mark behind you, be it practicals or the exams. So I just want to say that I am very sorry for all the hard times I gave you," Draco said. Hermione let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. "Are you really sorry? Did you mean that?" she asked softly. "Every word of it," Draco said, nodding his head. Hermione looked into his eyes and trying to find a hint of deceit in them, but could find none. Finally, she sat back in her chair and sighed. She took her face in her hands and sat like that for a moment for saying, "All is forgotten" Draco looked at her in shock. "Are you serious? I mean you really forgive me?" he asked with bated breath. "I said forget, not forgive. you have to earn forgiveness" Hermione said. "Of course. I understand, and thank you for giving me a chance" Draco said smiling. Hermione simply nodded. This was too much for her to process in one day. Before Draco could go on, there was a knock on the door. "Come in!" he said. Ava came in precariously balancing a tea tray in her hands. "Thank you, Ava. Now if you will, can you please go and organize an appointment with Mr.Roosenvelt for the wine account?" he asked. "Will do Mr.Malfoy," Ava said, before going out of there. Draco poured two mugs of tea and handed one to Hermione. She accepted it with a small "Thank you" but waited for Draco to take a sip, making sure that it's not poisoned. 

"Okay...Let's get started. First of all, why did you leave the Ministry? You had a very high position there as Head of Magical Beings and you were also handling the Werewolf department, I take it. So why change?" Draco asked. Hermione knew that he would ask this. Anyone in their right mind would ask this question because Ministry jobs are the most sought-after jobs. Everyone yearned to work in the Ministry and especially for someone like her, after gaining such a high position, Malfoy must have thought that she was crazy to leave. But how much ever you brace yourself and ready yourself to answer the most dreaded question, it's always hard. Hermione bit her lip to stop herself from crying and responded, "I wanted to erm...get a new life, so to say," she said, hoping that Malfoy wouldn't ask any more questions. Her prayers went unanswered as Draco asked, "So you applied for this job as a solution to some kind of mid-life crisis?" "No, not a mid-life crisis...I literally am starting a new life. My - My fiance, I mean my ex-fiance cheated on me, so I'm starting afresh," Hermione said, her lower lip trembling. Draco's jaw hardened. "Weasley cheated on you?" he asked, clearly trying to keep the anger out of his voice. Hermione didn't trust her voice. She simply nodded. Draco let out a breath. "Okay...moving on. Do you have any recommendation letters?" he asked, avoiding talking about Weasley as it clearly bothered her. Hermione closed her eyes for a moment to calm herself down before saying, "Yes. I have a few recommendation letters from Harry Potter," "Harry Potter eh?" Draco said taking the papers from her hand. Hermione sat in silence as Draco read the papers. Draco was impressed by her recommendation letters and reports from the Ministry. "Wow...Not bad," he said after finishing. In spite of herself, Hermione smiled. "So, how is Potter anyway?" Draco asked casually. Hermione raised her eyebrow. "Why this sudden interest in the boy-who-lived?" she asked. Draco chuckled and said, "Nothing actually. I'm just still working on my small talk skills. I was never the one to beat around the bush." "Well, I must say that I am very happy that you are making this much of an effort, Malfoy," Hermione said with a small smile. "Thank you, and please, call me Draco," he said. Hermione's smile widened at this and said, "Only if you call me Hermione...Miss Granger is quite weird coming from you," she said. Draco laughed and said, "You've gotten yourself a deal, Hermione," Hermione crinkled her nose in a cartoonish way and said, "Even weirder" Both of them laughed. When both of them finally calmed down, "Welcome to the company, Hermione" Draco said. "Wait...I got the job?" she asked incredulously. "Of course you got the job. You have excellent recommendation letters, and from what I know about you from Hogwarts, you love being organized. So that's perfect." "Oh...Um, okay then! When can I start?" the brunette asked. "Actually, I was wondering if you can start tomorrow itself. It's been 2 weeks since my last Secretary left, and the company has been a mess ever since. Poor Ava is doing her work as well as a bit of Secretary work also, like taking calls and keeping records, and also making appointments. In fact, if I had hired you yesterday, you would have been the one who had to make the appointment with Mr.Roosenvelt today," Draco said. Hermione smiled. Work helped her take her mind off things. "Of course. I will start tomorrow," she said. "Well, until tomorrow Hermione," Draco said, putting out his hand. Hermione looked down at the hand, took it, and said, "Until tomorrow, Malf- I mean, Draco," she said, smiling. Draco smiled at the use of his first name. "Well, I'd better get going. I have some shopping to do," Hermione said, walking out of the door. "Bye!" Draco called, before settling down on his chair. 

Nothing could ruin his mood now. Not even a grinning-like-mad Blaise Zabini walking into his office saying, "So...I just saw Granger walk out of this office...What did she want?" Draco just sighed and said, "None of your business Blaise, go back to your office," "Uh huh...No way. You are telling me everything. So did you kiss her?" Blaise said cheekily. Draco groaned. "No Blaise, I didn't kiss her. She just came for a job interview. And even if she had just come simply, I wouldn't have kissed her. She just broke up with Weasel. He cheated on her," Draco said. "He did what?!" Blaise said, shocked. Draco simply nodded. "Man, what a loser," Blaise said before getting up. "Well, I need to go home. I have a wonderful witch waiting for me," he said and apparated out. 

Hermione went into the elevator, smiling. She had gotten the job! Mal-Draco had apologized to her. She had gotten away from Ronald. Man, life was sweet. Halfway through the elevator, it stopped its doors opening. At first, she didn't recognize the woman who walked in, but the woman did. "Wait a minute...Are you- but you can't be. You work at the Ministry," the mystery woman said. "Um...sorry...Do I know you?" Hermione asked uncomfortably. The woman stared at her and then said, "It's me. Pansy Parkinson," It was Hermione's turn to stare. "Parkinson?" she said, stunned. Pansy had grown into a beautiful woman. She no longer looked like a pug, and that permanent sneer that used to be on her face was gone, making her look very beautiful indeed. "That's me. And you are Hermione Granger. But what are you doing here?" Pansy asked. "Oh! Um, I came here for an interview with Draco," Hermione said. "Draco?" Pansy asked, looking astonished. Hermione narrowed her eyes in confusion and said, "Yes...Draco Malfoy. You must know him!" Pansy shook her head and then said, "Of course I know Draco! He's my best friend. No, what I meant was, you said his name! Like his first name. You called him Draco. Not Malfoy, not ferret, just Draco." "Oh! Well, we kinda called a truce," Hermione said shyly, while her mind was racing. She was actually having a civil conversation with Pansy Parkinson! Pansy's lips broke into a wide smile. "That's great!" she said. Hermione was surprised on hearing this. She had expected a few comments about that, how Draco was out of his mind to call a truce with a mudblood and such. "Oh! And also, I just want to apologize about all the things I said and did to you during our Hogwarts days," Pansy said, shyly. Hermione grinned. "You have no idea how weird this day is for me. First Draco apologizes, then you. I wouldn't be surprised if the sky fell down next!" The brunette said. Pansy grinned at that and stuck out her hand. Hermione took it and said, "I am ready to start a new friendship with you," Pansy smiled at this. "Well, since we are starting afresh, I am Pansy Parkinson, and you are?" "Hermione Granger. An absolute pleasure to meet you." The two girls smiled at one other and then Pansy said, "So how would you like to go out for a drink?"

Hey Guys! Sorry for the delay! Really very sorry. So here's the next chapter. Sorry again because it's quite short, but this chapter is just a filler. I'll try to update again soon. Thank you all for being so patient. Love you all! :)