𝒜𝒻𝓉𝑒𝓇𝓂𝒶𝓉𝒽 | 𝒟.𝑀.

31 | ﴾ Indiana Jones ﴿

Draco decided to get up very early on Thursday for his evolving position with the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes. He now had increased responsibilities with regard to bringing in professional blueprints with no former architectural training, purely on his reputation and what he had shown McGonagall so far. 

Architectural witches and wizards were an extremely uncommon breed. The demand wasn't particularly high and there were few courses available worldwide, as magic could typically do most of the work for new establishments; all one needed was a good enough imagination, and then a final inspection. However, many magicals chose to inhabit older and more sacred properties such as Hogwarts for their work and lifestyles, and these centuries-old buildings were much more complex and required serious consideration when rehabilitating. Draco had come to the conclusion that McGonagall was either out of her mind for targeting such a young wizard for the position, or she simply couldn't find a more seasoned professional out of the handful worldwide. 

The second British Wizarding war had not only left a sour aftertaste in it's allied county's perceptions of England, but had resulted in Hogwarts becoming labelled as a cursed property that many saw as a graveyard that should no longer be inhabited or disturbed. Over several years it had housed some of the most evil individuals in the world. Dozens of students had been intentionally trapped within upon the siege, to be later consumed as blood fuel for the dark lord and left to rot in heaps. While it was being repaired, there was angry ongoing political debate amongst leaders and parents regarding whether or not it should even be reopened. 

Draco was in unbelievable misery that morning from the wild night before, and decided he sincerely needed to reduce using alcohol as a form of coping with his heartbreak. He grabbed his piles of scrolls that he'd worked on the day prior and left the Manor with his head spinning painfully, wondering if he had dreamt of seeing Madeleine the night before or if that had been a real occurrence. If it had, then he was extremely pleased to have managed to get her into bed, but there was the other humiliating reality that he'd spent most of it crying like an idiot.

Ergo, he wanted to avoid running into his emotionally detached wife in the atrium as they both typically left at the same time. He was struggling with the agony of being in love with someone who possibly didn't care for him in return.

He had seen Madeleine around the Ministry plenty, speaking and laughing with Theodore Nott. They were far too cozy and it made him sick and jealous beyond belief, on top of downright terrified for her safety. He had developed an angry habit of stomping through the large central space with newspapers held up high next to his face, hoping that he could avoid catching glimpses of their flirting. He wanted to prove to her that he wasn't controlling but it was taking absolutely everything he had.

It was an ordinary and quiet morning at the Ministry when he arrived painfully early at 7:15am. Upon exiting the fireplace network he strode purposefully towards the elevator that he usually took to the third level, intending to work on his plans before McGonagall arrived and scolded him for not doing his homework. 

He was startled and infuriated when he heard Hermione Granger calling his name.

He spun with his eyes shut harshly, "What Granger? Did your sense of time evade you? It's far too early for your babbling nonsense." When he opened his eyes to glare at her she looked angry with her hands on her hips in her dark blue suit.

"I couldn't care less what the hour is, Malfoy. This is unbelievably urgent. You need to come to my office right now. It's an emergency." Her typical shrill voice sent shivers of irritation down his spine. She started pacing away towards a different elevator and he snarled, following her quite a few meters behind so as not to appear eagerly obedient.