Roommates

12. Back to Work (pt 1)

Hermione's POV

I awoke to the smell of fresh coffee wafting through the flat, and took a quick look at my alarm clock.

6:30

I groaned, today my first day back at work since Ron and I split. Kingsley had wanted to give me time to heal. I got out of bed and walked into the kitchen to see Draco in lime green robes sipping a cup of coffee.

"Er.. goodmorning." I said. Draco looked at my confused face and laughed.

"Today's my first official day as a healer."

"Ah that makes sense. Is there any coffee left?" I asked.

Draco grabbed another mug out of the cabinet and filled it to the brim.

"Milk or sugar?" He asked.

"A little of both." I said. It was a nice sight to see him doing something so mundane, though he still looked as eloquent as always. Finally he finished and handed me the mug.

"Thanks."

"So back to work today?" He smirked.

"Unfortunately."

He gave me a puzzled look, "I thought you liked your job?"

"I do but I'm not quite looking forward to all the looks of pity that I'll get." I muttered.

"How about I pick you up for lunch then? I'm sure we'll make quite a scene seeing as we haven't been in the Prophet in a while." He said. I just looked at him and he grinned.

"Well aren't you mischievous. I'd love to go for lunch." I said and shot him a quick smile.

"I'll see you at twelve then. I should get going, I don't want to be late on the first day." He put his mug in the sink and gave me a quick hug before apparating out of the flat.  

It's funny how that short hug can make my whole body tingle.  We haven't talked about our "relationship" or how it's escalating. I don't even know if he feels the way I do.

I shook my head to clear these thoughts, and went to take a shower.

20 minutes later I got out and used a quick charm to dry my hair and body, and went to get dressed.

10 minutes later I apparated to the ministry wearing a red dress with a sweetheart neckline and black heels. Simple, but elegant.

So far it wasn't as bad as I had thought it would be. People said hello as I walked to the lift and I gave them a quick wave. When I entered the lift I braced myself for my department.

Sure enough as soon as I stepped out I was given looks of pity from everyone in their cubicles. Determined to ignore them, I walked straight to my office and shut the door.

My assistant, Sarah almost gave me a heart attack.

"Hermione you're back!" She squealed and encompassed me in a rough hug.

"Sarah I need to breathe." I said after a few seconds.

"Oh right, sorry. It's just been so busy while you were gone, we all really missed you!" She said quickly.

"I missed you too. What happened while I was away?" I asked.

We each sat at our separate desks, and Sarah filled me in on what I'd missed.

"I can't believe people are attacking centaurs! That's barbaric!" I said outraged, after a good hours worth of complaints from Sarah about all of the paperwork that it's caused.

"I know! I'm just not sure how to compose new legislature to outlaw it without leaving loopholes." She said.

"We'll figure something out." I said determinedly, and we got to work.

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A few hours later the door to my office slammed open and a tall dark haired woman walked in.

"Granger." She said with a smug smile.

"Veronica Summers." I said through gritted teeth. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Sarah staring with wide eyes.

"Ron and I are getting a house elf, so I need a license." She said.

"The flat is tiny, are you really so lazy that you can't clean it yourself or are you just incompetent?" I asked with a smirk.

To my dismay, she only laughed. "You haven't heard? Ron is buying the first Weasley Manor, so we'll be needing a house elf or two."

My hands started to shake. Of course she had to come on my first day back, the manipulative little slag. I stood up, getting angrier by the second. However before I could hex her brains out, Draco swaggered into my office.

"Hey love, you ready for lunch?" He asked, giving me a knowing look.

"Just a moment, I have to deal with this." I muttered. He came around the desk and put his hand on my waist, I started to calm down immediately. Oh the effect this man has on me.

I took a deep breath and decided to just get this over with as soon as I could. Veronica had a look of hatred in her eyes when I finally looked up at her. Of course she was only here to piss me off.

"I'll come back later." She said stiffly, and walked out. 

"Can I kill her?" I asked Draco quietly.

"Not in public."

"Damn."

Draco chuckled and gently started pushing me towards the door.

"I'll be back!" I said to Sarah, who looked as though she was about to faint. I suppose Draco does have that effect on most people.

I just laughed and walked out of the office. Together we headed to lunch, giggling at the looks people were giving us the whole way.