The Mark

Hermione Granger stormed down the quiet office hallway, hair bristling and absolutely seething with annoyance. The formal work complaint she'd just received, summoning her immediately to her superior's office, was crumpled into near non-existence in her clenched fist. The sting of betrayal made it even worse, because once again, Harry was siding with him and not her. And now Draco sodding Malfoy was trying to ruin her Ministry career.

Without bothering to knock, Hermione threw open the door to her possibly former best friend and current boss's office. "Harry-"

She froze when she saw Harry wasn't alone. The tall, muscular form of Draco Malfoy sat across from him, one ankle crossed over his knee and his arms folded crossly. A smug grin spread across his face at the sight of her upset.

"Granger." He said, his voice dripping with self-satisfaction. "So nice of you to join us."

"Have a seat, Hermione." Harry said, his tone calm but formal.

Too enraged for civility, Hermione opened her mouth to spew venom, but Harry cut her off before she could.

"This behavior can't continue. Your actions today put the entire team at risk."

"Because he-" Hermione tried to interject, but Harry spoke right over her.

"Because you didn't trust your colleague to do his job. You overstepped, you put the whole operation at risk, and because of you a dangerous fugitive is still at large." He looked at her sternly, his glasses reflecting the harsh light of the fire in the hearth. "He's saved my life more times than I can count at this point. He's earned his place on this team. Get over yourself Hermione, or I'll be forced to demote you both."

"Both!" Draco and Hermione objected simultaneously, and Hermione's scowl redoubled.

"Your screw ups are making him screw up, which I think is what you wanted." Harry said solemnly. "If you two can't find it within yourselves to get along, you can't work together. Which means neither of you will have a future on this team. Do I make myself clear?"

"I'm perfectly amenable to that. Miss Granger?" Draco leaned forward, resting his chin on his hands, looking pretentiously contemplative. The fact that he'd grown into the most gorgeous man she'd ever seen only pissed her off more. Still, she had to admit Harry had a point. She'd fucked up, and their operation had suffered for it.

"Fine." She agreed through clenched teeth.

Harry breathed a sigh of relief, before reaching for a thick folder atop his desk. "Good, then I have your first assignment as partners."

This time, even Draco balked.

"You want us to start now?" Hermione asked indignantly.

"Don't worry, I'm starting you off easy. Slate Sterling. Low level thug in the smuggling chain, just tail him and report back. No drawing attention to yourselves with petty bickering or stubborn arguments. Should be easy, if you both put your clever minds to it."

Hermione and Draco exchanged a glance; Draco's full of doubt, Hermione's full of scorn.

"Alright then." Hermione acquiesced, her back to the proverbial wall.

"I'm off then, you two have fun." With that, Harry picked up his coat, gathered a few other files from his desk into his briefcase, and headed out the door.

Awkward silence filled the room in his absence, and for once Draco didn't try to fill it with snarky comments. He merely flicked open the folder so it was easily read by both of them, and after a painfully long moment Hermione took the empty seat beside him so she could start reading too.