She happily sealed the last letter and set it on the stack with the rest, leaning back in her chair. After a day and a half of trying to work with different potion brewers, she finally managed to bring an agreement between one particular potion brewer that she thought was the best candidate and a wizard who actually grew the wolfsbane plant for local muggles' need to study its toxicity. She felt a large wave of stress lift off her shoulders as she sent the letters off to be delivered to her clients and let out a sigh of relief.
After a small break, she started to gather her information so that she could present her findings to the Minister for approval, but her door opening suddenly interrupted her.
"So, who did you pick?"
Hermione didn't even look up, giving a small, frustrated groan. "You know, Malfoy, when I agreed to help you I didn't think you would be this involved."
"Well, I did warn you about that," He answered, pausing in front of her desk.
"And will you stop randomly popping into my office without warning?" She asked, glaring at him. "I've already told you that I require appointments, and you are not going to be an exception."
He smirked at her and said, "For your information, Granger, I was going to make an appointment to be had in the next five minutes, but your secretary is not at her desk."
Hermione peaked around him to see that Claire was indeed not at her desk, and she sighed. "Claire is probably at lunch. And she is not my secretary; she is my assistant."
"Same difference," Draco shrugged. "Now, will you please tell me who you've chosen?"
"It hasn't been approved by the Minister yet, so no," Hermione answered simply, shutting the folder for emphasis.
He raised an eyebrow at her. "You can't even discuss it with me?"
"Why should I? I'm the one making the decision," She said.
"Yes, but I'm going to be one of the people affected by it," Draco retorted. "I want to make sure the best candidate was chosen."
"And you think I'm incapable of choosing the best candidate?"
He shrugged. "No offense, Granger, but you're fully human."
"What is that supposed to mean?" She asked angrily.
"It means that you don't quite know what this means for us," Draco said in a low voice. "This is a very important decision that is going to affect hundreds of people across the isles, and if anything goes wrong, people could die."
She narrowed her eyes and leaned in. "Do you really think that I am the kind of person to make such a decision lightly? To put hundreds of people at risk like that? I searched for days to make sure that everything was perfect, to make sure that the candidate I had chosen didn't have some secret bias against werewolves and was going to get his kicks out of poisoning them simply because he had the power to. I don't know what kind of person you think I am, but I would never put anyone at risk like that."
They watched each other quietly for a few moments before Draco relaxed slightly and nodded. "I just wanted to be sure."
"I'd greatly appreciate it if you would let me do my job, Malfoy," She said as she returned to her papers. "I wouldn't have become Head of the Beings division if I didn't care. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to see the Minister regarding my decision so I will need you to leave my office."
She finished gathering her findings and gestured for him to leave first, locking her office after herself and making her way to the lift. She groaned inwardly when she realized that he was still following her, and didn't say a word after she announced the floor she was going to.
After they began to move, she looked at him. "Are you not heading back to wherever you need to be?"
He shrugged, putting his hands in his pockets. "I've told Blaise that I would be out for lunch."
At the mention of food, her stomach grumbled slightly and she remembered that she hadn't eaten anything at all that morning. Hopefully the meeting with Kingsley wouldn't take too long...
They came to a quick stop and the doors opened and she stepped out, and much to her displeasure, Malfoy followed her. She tried to ignore him as she walked down the hallway, but he didn't leave her side.
"Is there something else you need?" She asked finally, stopping to glare at him.
"Nope," He answered with a small 'pop' for emphasis.
"Then why are you following me?" She demanded.
He smirked at her. "I told you, Granger; I'm going to be very involved with this."
"You are not going to be in that meeting with me."
"Yes, I am. The Minister's already expecting me."
She stared at him. "What do you mean, the Minister's already expecting you?"
"You'll just have to wait and see." He smirked at her again before taking off. "Come on, we have a meeting to get to!"
Letting out a frustrated growl, she followed him and quickly caught up. "Still as annoying as ever."
"It'd be a shame if I changed who I was," He retorted sarcastically.
Rolling her eyes, she didn't say anything and they continued walking in silence. They got a few odd looks from some of the other workers, but Hermione ignored them for the most part.
"So, how are things with you and Weasley?"
She gave him a surprised look. "Why?"
He shrugged. "Just a few comments you've made and the way he treated you when we bumped into each other at lunch. Just wanting to make sure everything's alright."
She paused and stared at him. He turned around and returned her look with an emotionless expression, obviously waiting for her to answer.
After a few moments of shock, she shook her head and gave him a skeptical look. "Since when do you care about my life, Malfoy?"
"Since you're working on my case," He answered simply. "I'd rather have the person in charge of it not be preoccupied with problems in her marriage."
She raised an eyebrow, and his mouth twitched again, but this time she could tell it was out of amusement. Walking past him, she said, "While I appreciate the attempt at a nice sentiment, there is absolutely nothing you need to worry about with my marriage."
"His treatment of you says otherwise."
Pausing again, she didn't turn around this time to look at him. There was something in his voice that had made her stop, and she couldn't quite figure it out. He had said it in a much quieter tone than before and it almost made him sound concerned. But it was Malfoy, and she knew he wasn't concerned about her wellbeing.
"That was just a rough day for us," She said quickly, looking over her shoulder. "He bought me flowers to make up for it."
Draco didn't say anything in response, watching her quietly. He noticed that she didn't meet his eyes when she said that, and it sounded like she was trying to convince herself more than she was trying to convince him. But then she turned to look forward again and started walking.
"We have a meeting to get to," She said in a tone that meant the conversation was over.
"Well Miss Granger, I have to say this is a very good solution."
Kingsley looked over her paperwork as Hermione sat in front of his desk and Draco stood in the corner of the office, watching them. Hermione still had no idea why he felt like he needed to be there, but she didn't want to bother arguing with it.
The Minister then sighed and set the paperwork down on the table, rubbing his face slightly. "The only problem I see is funding."
"I understand it's more expensive than the previous solution, sir, but this is the best option for my clients," Hermione said. "None of the potion brewers had a very reliable source of wolfsbane, and with this one being overseen by a wizard, we don't need to worry about any muggle interaction if we go out and source it ourselves."
Kingsley nodded at that but let out a heavy sigh as he quietly said, "Hermione, I think it's brilliant. But I don't know if I can convince the other members involved in the decision that the price will be worth it. They don't view werewolves' priorities like we do."
"I can help with funding."
Both Hermione and Kingsley looked back at Draco, who had taken a few steps towards them and stopped next to Hermione. Kingsley tilted his head slightly and then asked, "Are you sure you want to extend that offer, Mister Malfoy? That is a steep cost, and I'm not of the understanding of any connection you may have to this matter."
Draco nodded. "I'm willing to help. After all, hundreds of lives have already been affected by the death of the other potion brewer; if this will help put their lives back on track so they can go about doing what they need to do, then I will do it. It's the least I could do after everything."
Hermione couldn't help but smile slightly and Kingsley nodded, impressed. "Alright then. It shouldn't be difficult to bring the others on board. In the meantime, I will sign off on this plan so that you can go ahead and get everything started. With the full moon being two weeks away, we need to make sure that this gets out as quickly as possible."
"Thank you, sir!" Hermione said happily.
She stood up to gather her paperwork and Draco watched as the color nearly completely drained from her face. She immediately sat back down and put her head in her hands, taking a few deep breaths.
"Are you alright, Hermione?" Kingsley asked quickly.
"Yes," She answered but didn't look up. "Just...stood up too quickly."
She lifted her head then and her face was ghostly pale. Kingsley gave her a concerned look and asked more quietly, "Have you eaten today? You look like you have low blood sugar."
"I honestly didn't have time this morning but after this I'm going to lunch, I'll be fine." She waved him off and took another deep breath before standing up.
She managed to stay up this time and gathered her paperwork before nodding to Kingsley and rushing out of the office with Draco following behind. They were both silent until they got to the lift and then he let out a heavy sigh.
"So, not only do I need to worry about you stressing over your marriage, but I also need to worry about you fainting in the middle of everything," He said before looking down at her. "How can I expect you to take care of me as a client when you can't even take care of yourself?"
"I'm not going to be fainting, Malfoy," Hermione sighed, leaning against the wall of the lift and closing her eyes. "And you're very self-sufficient; I'm sure you'll find a way to survive without me."
He didn't answer and she opened her eyes to see that he was smirking to himself. She took another deep breath and pushed herself off the wall as they came to a stop, rolling her eyes when he followed her again.
"I thought your business with me was finished now?" She said over her shoulder. "Shouldn't you be leaving?"
He shrugged and said, "I'm going to make sure that you don't faint on the way to your office."
"I don't need a watchdog, Malfoy," She said sarcastically, relishing in the look of annoyance that he gave her.
"Ha, ha."
She grinned at that and unlocked her office, setting the paperwork down and then saying, "Alright, I'm in my office. You can go now."
He stood in her doorway and leaned against it slightly. "Aren't you going to lunch?"
"I will after I notify the potion brewer and the wolfsbane source," She said simply. She glanced up to see him frowning at her and she sighed, leaning back in her chair. "Malfoy, I'm going to eat."
"You look sick, Granger; do I need to order you food?"
She laughed slightly. "Why do you care all of a sudden?"
"Like I said, you're overseeing my case," He shrugged. "If you're not eating, you're not doing yourself any favors. Besides, you're skinny enough as it is."
"It's not like I'm not eating on purpose," She said, becoming more annoyed at his assumptions. "I've been stressed out this entire week making sure everything has been taken care of so I was a bit preoccupied. Now I won't be as stressed and I will find time to eat."
"You're supposed to make time, not find time," Draco said. "Eating is important."
"I realize that, and every minute you spend delaying me from doing my work is delaying me from eating," She said as she looked back down at her desk. "I'll be just fine."
There was the sound of footsteps outside in the hallway and Draco turned to see Claire returning to her desk. "Well, I see your assistant has returned. Now that someone else is here to make sure you don't faint, I will be leaving."
Hermione stared at him; he stayed because no one else was there?
"Malfoy! What the bloody hell are you doing here?!"
She groaned then, putting her head in her hands. "I told you to leave..."
Draco gave her an odd look before Ron suddenly appeared in front of him, glaring at him. "Why are you here?"
"I told you before, she is helping me with a case for one of my employees," Draco answered simply. "We had a meeting with the Minister about it and I escorted her back to her office because she looked like she was about to faint."
Ron looked over at Hermione then, seeing that she was still somewhat pale. Before he could say anything though, Draco went on: "You should really keep a better eye on your wife, Weasley. She hasn't been eating, and you should be the first one making sure that she takes care of herself."
"I don't remember asking for your advice, Malfoy," Ron growled.
"No, but you clearly need it," Draco said in a low, threatening voice.
The look on his face sent chills down Hermione's spine. He genuinely looked angry that Ron wasn't looking after her, which surprised her. Why would he even care at all?
"Hermione is not your concern," Ron said, pointing a finger at Draco. "And I better not ever see you in this office again."
"Alright, that's enough!"
Both of them looked over at Hermione, who was standing again and leaning forward on her desk. She was glaring at Ron when she said, "He is representing one of my clients, Ron; I'm going to have to do business with him, which means I need to interact with him. You have absolutely no say in who I can and can't talk to, especially on a professional matter. This is none of your business, so you will not be making decisions for me."
Draco smirked at that, but she ignored him as Ron turned to face her. "It's Malfoy, Hermione. I don't care if you're working with him; and why is he having to be the one you interact with? You work directly with the werewolves, so why aren't you working directly with this one?"
"People, Ron." Hermione rolled her eyes as she tried to think of an excuse on the spot. "And I'm working with Draco because the client is worried about his status getting out and Draco is trying to protect him."
The use of his first name caught him off guard but Draco stayed silent, watching the interaction between the two of them. The way Hermione was being spoken to and treated did not sit right with him at all, and regardless of the bit of contempt he felt for her, he knew it wasn't right.
"I wouldn't talk to her like that, Weasley," Draco said in a threatening voice. "She's your wife, not your possession."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Ron demanded.
"It means..." Draco took a step towards him and glared. "...that if I ever see you try to control her like that again, I will make sure you regret it."
Silence hung in the air between them as they both continued to glare at each other. Draco was the first to look away though, and he looked over at Hermione with a nod. "Let me know when I can notify my employee that the potion is ready."
Hermione nodded, thankful that he kept the cover-up going. Draco then glared at Ron one more time before turning around and leaving the office.
Ron then looked over at her, his brow furrowing. "We are going to have a talk later."
"Yes, we most certainly are," She replied sternly. "Now please go, I need to notify the new potion brewer that the decision was made."
Ron left without another word and Hermione leaned back in her chair, putting her head in her hand. A small knock on her door made her look up though and she saw Claire standing in the doorway.
"Is there anything you need, Hermione?" She asked quietly.
"Yes,actually..." Hermione sighed and returned her head to her hand. "Can you pleaseorder lunch for us? Get whatever you'd like and you can charge it to myGringotts account."
A/N: Sorry for the slight delay in getting this up, hope you all enjoy! <3