Hermione felt panic sweep her body as she saw the worried expression on Kendrina’s face. Kendrina was usually the kind of person who NEVER worried. She just got the job done. It seemed different this time. Kendrina walked over to the two of them and sat down in one of Hermione’s visitor chairs.
“Well, we have confirmed all intelligence we have so far. The Death Eaters were in fact residing at the location we talked about earlier.”
“Simple! We go in and get them, what’s so hard about that?” Malfoy asked.
Kendrina gave Malfoy a look she only reserved for people who really ticked her off.
“Well, Mr. Malfoy, I was getting to that. We’ve sent in aurors, but it’s been abandoned.
They’ve moved locations, and we have no idea where. We’re going to need you and Granger to go to the residence tomorrow night, as scheduled. It’s of vital importance that we investigate every last corner. Make sure you do it well, is all I have to say. You’re going to be the only ones working there. You have to watch your backs.”
She stood up and walked to the door. She turned and added, “And Mr. Malfoy, as I can see you’re a very proud man, you will LISTEN to any orders given to you. You don’t want to go killing you and Granger both because you were stupid.”
She walked out of the room, leaving Malfoy stunned. No one talked to him like that. He grimaced at her disappearing figure.
“Do something stupid…” Malfoy snorted.
“She has a point, you know.” Hermione said casually.
Malfoy snapped his head up at her and scowled.
“You don’t know me or anything about me, Granger. I’d shut it, if I were you.”
Hermione pointed at the door.
“Out. It’s time to leave.”
“You can’t just tell me to-”
“I wasn’t being rude. I’m just saying that now we’ve met with Kendrina, we can leave.”
Malfoy’s pale skin flushed pink.
“Oh, right.”
“Thanks for helping me with the papers. You really helped me out.” She said kindly.
“Helped? Granger, I thought I told you, I was repaying a debt. It was not my desire to write until my hands bleed. And besides, don’t really know how much I helped. I barely made a dent in mine.”
“The fact that you tried is good enough. I’ll just finish up tomorrow, like I said. I’m tired right now.” She walked out of the office.
Malfoy followed her. Despite the annoying jabs she’d made earlier, his conversation with
Granger wasn’t that bad. She was actually an alright person to talk to. It was better than a chat with Moaning Myrtle.
“Granger.” He said just as she was about to leave him.
“What is it, Malfoy?” she said in a sleepy tone.
“I think that I should apparate back with you, just in case. You can’t be too careful.”
“Malfoy, I’ am perfectly capa-”
“Just shut it for a moment, Granger. I don’t want to find that my partner is kidnapped tomorrow, just let me apparate back with you. You do it with Potter and Weasley constantly.
I don’t want to have to patrol by myself tomorrow.” He said coolly.
“First you offer to help me finish my paperwork, you have an actual conversation with me
without being a jerk, and now you want to take me home… I don’t know what you’ve done with Draco Malfoy, but please, leave him there.” She smiled.
Malfoy rolled his eyes and said, “Whatever. Let’s just go. I’m starving, and quite frankly, I’m getting sick of you.”
He took her arm and they disapparated.
After the nauseating and insane sensation of the apparition was over, Malfoy was being hurled into a bed of rose bushes.
“ARGH!” he yelled when the thorns jabbed at him.
Hermione was glancing down at him trying to repress giggles.
“What are you laughing at, Granger?! Just get me out of this bloody plant!”
“Diffendo!”
The plant was destroyed, and Malfoy sat there, bleeding. Hermione stifled more laughter, and said, “Episkey” as she pointed her wand at his oozing wounds.
Malfoy stood up, a little bit of his dignity left with the remains of the rosebush. He looked up
at her place and grimaced.
“THIS is where you live?”
Hermione’s smile disappeared.
“Yes. It is.” She turned away.
“Well, I’m home. You can leave now.”
Malfoy nodded curtly.
“Yes, well, I suppose you’re right.”
“Malfoy?”
“What, Granger?”
“I know you’re not too fond of me, but I appreciate your help. It’s making this a lot easier on the both of us. Thanks.” She turned immediately and reached for her doorknob.
“Granger, for you to be the best in our class, you should be doing more with your life.”
Leave it to Malfoy to ruin any shred of helpfulness he’d built.
“I don’t think I ever asked for career advice, Malfoy.” She took her hand off of the knob and
put it on her hip.
Malfoy laughed.
“I just don’t know why you haven’t gotten any other offers. Honestly, Granger, don’t look at me like that.”
Hermione was glaring at him.
“You’ve gotten a bit cheeky, haven’t you? I suppose you have to, what with Potter and Weasley being the girls they are.” He smirked.
“Leave Harry and Ron out of it.” She said.
“Calm down, Granger, only making a statement. Well, I guess I’ll have to endure another day with you tomorrow. Just don’t mess up If there actually ARE Death Eaters there.”
And with that, Draco disapparated.
“Pathetic ar*se” Hermione said.
The strange thing was, she was smiling while she said it.
