Deal With The Devil (Dramione)

Chapter Nine: Striking a Deal

Her coffee and bagel were waiting for her when she arrived an hour early at the office, a warning charm keeping them the perfect temperature. There was no sign of her annoying boss.

Hermione spent more time that morning contemplating Draco's cryptic  last text then she would care to admit. Every time her assistant opened the door her head shot up, convinced it must be Draco. But it never was.

By lunch time Hermione's hair had gone from well tamed curls to a bushy mess from running her hands through it in annoyance. Annoyance at herself and annoyance at Draco for being so damn cryptic. And if she was willing to admit it, which she wasn't, she was almost disappointed he hadn't come to see her yet.

Turning her chair, Hermione glanced out of the window behind her, but nothing held her interest for long. Sighing she turned back around.

She had been working on the budget proposal for her first cause - a fund to provide wolfsbane potion free of charge to all those affected. Fenrir had created a small army of child werewolves and society was still dealing with the implications. Many families had lost everything in the war, and reparations were slow to come. The potion was a monthly tax that few could afford putting both the children and their families in danger.

Titling the report The Lupin Initiative, she stared at the summary. She knew Draco had said she could spend as much money as she wanted, but she was pushing for a lot. Besides the position being several thousand galleons a person per month, Hermione was also pushing for the start up of a private school for the children. There were just too many to get adequate and necessary attention should they attend Hogwarts in the start of their school career. Once the students reached their fourth year they would transfer over Hogwarts with the aid of counselors and additional support staff. It was risky; Draco would probably think she was over stepping boundaries.

But all Hermione could remember was Lupin and his friends gallivanting around in the dark, children carrying a heavy burden. And Teddy, who was six now and starting to ask questions about his parents. No, she had to ask. It was a disservice to their memory if she didn't.

Pulling her now wild hair into a semblance of a top knot she grabbed her office phone and dialed Draco. He answered on the second ring.

"Yes?"

"May I come see you? I have my first budget report and would like to present it to you."

There was silence on the other end.

"If now isn't a good time I could-," she started her heart sinking.

"Hermione you've been here two weeks how the hell did you already finish designing your department AND a proposal?" There was nothing but genuine respect in his tone and Hermione felt herself blushing.

"It's important to me." Her voice was softer than she'd meant it to be, and more emotional. She was supposed to be a professional here, dammit!

Draco was silent again. The. He finally said, "My office is always open to you, Hermione. Come on down when you're ready." The phone clicked softly.

Hermione looked down at the phone still in her hand. She could do this. It was just Malfoy. How many times had they sparred? And she's won more times then she had lost, that was for sure.

Taking a deep breath she stood and walked out of her office. She could do this. This was just Malfoy. There was no reason to be nervous around him.

She pushed down the part of her that wondered what Ginny and he had said about her. It didn't matter. She had a cause and if there was one thing she knew it was how to champion a cause.

Hermione paused in front of his door. Did she enter or did she knock? Deciding on knocking she raised her hand and rapped once.

"Come in," Draco's deep voice called through the door.

Taking a deep breath she opened the door and took in the scene in front of her.

Draco was sitting at his desk, papers strewn across every inch of it. He was hunched over a particularly high stack and when he glanced up at Hermione she notice his fair was rather disheveled as if he, too, had been running his hands through it.

"You're going to get a backache," Hermione said automatically.

Draco grimaced. "Already have one." He stretched and his button down stretched with him highlighting his toned physique. Realizing she was staring Hermione dropped her gaze hastily.

"So, take a seat Hermione. Seems like we have something to discuss."

Hermione hastily sat in the chair in front of Draco's desk. She could do this. This was just the same verve's she felt before an exam.

"I want to solve the werewolf problem."

Draco raised an eyebrow. "Seems ambitious for a first  project."

"There's nothing ambitious about it. It's clearly one of the most pressing issues in modern day wizarding times due to the war and Fenrir, and I've developed a plan to stop - are you okay, Draco?"

He'd blanched at the mention of the war and Fenrir and his left forearm had flinched. "Yea, im fine. Do continue." His voice came out forced.

Realizing her mistake, Hermione chose to plough forward and not acknowledge the hippogryph in the room. Slowly Draco began engaging in her presentation until the presentation had turned more into a conversation than I presentation.

When she was finished, Draco leaned back in his chair, thinking. "You have a solid plan. But it's going to take capital. And even though we have the money for such a venture, it'd still be best to involve the public as much as possible."

Hermione gulped, knowing where this was going. "I can't do it."

"I haven't even said anything yet."

"You don't have to. You want to put me on stage as the golden trios brains and have everyone gawk at me. I can't do that anymore."

Draco's eyebrows furrowed. "Hermione I don't mean to put you on display at all. But you have to albiceleste you must step out in the spotlight the same way Blaise and I do. It's just business."

"I don't want to do a charity function." Hermione hated the hitch in her voice.

Draco rose and came around the desk yo couch in front of her. "Hermione. I'm not asking you to do this alone. I'm not sure if it's any consolation but Blaise and I will be there for you. I'm asking for a charity ball. You won't even have to plan it alone. You just have to attend and prove to the world how right it would be to help. You've already convinced me and as Blaise would say I have a stone cold heart, if I even have one at all."

Meeting Draco's gaze, Hermione bit her lip. "Okay. Just know I don't do well in crowds anymore."

Draco took her hand. "I promise Blaise or I will always be at your side. But this is something you have to do. Hell, you can even invite Potter and the Weasle if you'd like."

Hermione nodded. "Okay. But if it gets too much I get to leave."

"Deal. Now that that's settled let's talk about logistics. My mother,of course, will be the one helping you with your ball. It's kind of her thing."

Hermione stared at Draco I horror.

Smirking at her expression he said, "That part is nonnegotiable. I'll get you her number." Draco started to rise, and stopped just long enough to tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "You look good regardless of how you do your hair, but I'm rather partial to it like this. Don't think it looks unprofessional should you decide to keep it like this."

Before Hermione could respond, Blaise slammed open the door. "Time for lunch! Oh hi Hermione."

Hermione have a wave and rose, trying her best to not betray how fast her heart was beating. Draco's words had had a strange effect on her and she need to figure out why.