What If...

Chapter 2

"So," said Theodore Nott, "how is your assignment going?"

Draco looked up from his desk to see Theo leaning against the wall of his cubicle. "It's going alright. Could be going better. We just can't seem to catch him in the act of doing anything remotely illegal."

Theo nodded, "Yeah, I can see how that might be a problem. So, what's the plan for Saturday?"

Draco noticed the casual tone Theo tried to put forth with that sentence. Saturday was May 2nd. It would be the six-year anniversary of the Battle of Hogwarts. Draco knew that everyone that had walked away that day had walked away with deep scars. Most of Theo's had healed but it seemed that his would always be raw. He did a good job of hiding it though, and both had made new names for themselves after the war.

Draco sat back in his chair, tossing his quill onto his desk. "Well, Mrs. Weasley invited me to come to the Burrow for dinner with everyone, naturally. Then I hear there is going to be a little gathering at the Hogs Head. Aberforth is going to put on a little spread for all us 'war heroes.' It should be a good time. You and Ginny coming then?"

Theo nodded. "Yes. It will be nice to see some of our classmates again. I haven't seen Goyle since the holidays. Did you hear that he and Astoria Greengrass have started dating?"

Draco smiled. "Can't say I'm too surprised. When we were at the Leaky Cauldron over the holidays the two of them seemed quite close. I have to say, though, that I always thought him and Millie had a bit of a thing."

"Me too," said Theo. "Oh well, hopefully she will be there too. It has been over a year since we've seen her! The last I heard she was trying to reconnect with her father in Germany.

Draco snorted, "Sounds like something she would do." He paused for a moment before continuing. "Hey Theo, how would someone go about getting a wand if they had never attended Hogwarts?"

Theo shrugged. "Who says you have to attend Hogwarts to get a wand? I reckon anyone could go to Ollivander's to buy one, why?"

Draco could feel his cheeks color slightly. "No reason, really. Just something I was curious about. Saw something on the stakeout, that's all."

Theo looked at Draco curiously, "You sure? Everything all right?"

Draco said quickly, "Yeah, yeah, fine. Anyway, I got to run this report up to Strauss before he leaves. I'll catch up with you later."

Draco walked across the open office of cubicles towards the director's office. He knocked waiting for the gruff "Come in" before he did so.

"Here is the report for the day," Draco said, crossing the room and handed over his paperwork to Strauss. Strauss looked up from the papers he was signing and took the folder from Draco, sitting back in his chair and looking over its contents.

"Not bad Malfoy," he said. "You seem to have all of your bases covered, have chosen excellent agents for the team, yet you haven't made any progress on catching the bastard. Care to explain why?"

Draco could feel his feet melt a little bit into the floor due to the intense stare the director was casting his way but he managed to stand his ground. "We have been following him quite intensely sir. I plan on doubling it up, even if I have to stay on stakeout twenty-four hours myself sir."