Tiny forward note: I don't own Harry Potter. That's a shocker. Also, this fan fiction is currently under some updates. That does not mean that I am abandoning it- I am merely fixing a few things so I can move on.

Also: if you are uncomfortable with the Draco/Hermione pairing, the thought of Hermione not falling to pieces when she enters the Manor, fights with Ron Weasley, or forgiving Draco- this is not the fan fiction for you.

With all of that nonsense out of the way, I hope you enjoy!

Hermione Granger was washing dishes in the cozy kitchen of the small London flat that she shared with Ron Weasley, after that night's meal. She enjoyed the relaxing feeling of warm water flowing over her skin as she mindlessly scrubbed dinner plates. She used the down time to reflect upon the decisions she had made recently. Currently, she was debating whether or not she was right to have taken the job as Deputy Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement giving up her influential position as the Head of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. She had been able to overhaul laws restricting the rights of werewolves and house elves, which subsequently lead to Kingsley Shacklebolt approaching her to take her current position. Despite leaving her position in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, she was unsure of her replacement. Hermione wanted to make sure all of her work was not in vain. She would never forgive herself if either the Lupin Law for Werewolf Rights and Protections or the Dobby Law for House Elf Welfare were repealed because she was not there to defend them.

Since her promotion, Kingsley had saddled her with the job of breaking old pureblood laws. Hermione had assumed that the only action required to bring down the laws would be to create a case against them in Wizengamot and draw a popular vote against it. However, nothing was that simple when extremely old, bigoted Purebloods were involved. The laws needed to be literally broken. They had a whole army of curses and wards placed on the actual parchment that needed to be disabled before the law could be brought into Wizengamot. They were carefully layered to make the process as painful as possible, and Hermione's mind was working harder than when she was studying for her NEWTs. Needless to say, she was loving it, but anyone could see that she was more than a little overwhelmed.

She was interrupted from her musings by a tap at the window. She quickly finished her last dish and dried her hands. With a wave of her wand, the window opened, and Kingsley's great gray owl swooped in with a small note tied to it's leg. Slightly worried, Hermione untied the letter from the owl and gave it a piece of leftover chicken. She received a happy hoot before the owl soared back out the window. She hesitated a second before tearing open the letter, her mind swimming with doubts and possibilities. What if the marriage law cannot be undone? Or was he telling her that he was not happy enough with her work, and he's sending her back to her old department?

"Hermione,

I have found someone to help you crack the Muggle Marriage Act. I know he doesn't have the brightest history with you, but he has access to much more information than we do. You are to meet Mr. Malfoy at his manor tomorrow around noon. You can take the day off to discuss our issue with him. Floo to the address below, and he will meet you to take you through the Malfoy Manor wards.

Good Luck,

Kingsley Shacklebolt

Minister of Magic"

In that moment, Hermione was glad that Ron had to work late so that he could not see her freeze and mentally freak out. She prided herself on being an open-minded person that believed that anyone can change, but she couldn't help but wonder if the old childhood rivalry would come out? Had Malfoy really changed? He had kept a low profile for the past five years, and she wondered if that was long enough to wipe away years of blood prejudice. Could she handle going back into the same mansion she was once tortured in with the same person that only stood and watched those atrocities? What if he had changed? Could she handle treating Malfoy as anything other than a bigoted prick?

Hermione glanced up at the clock on the wall: 22:30. Had she really just stood there for an hour thinking about Malfoy? She sighed and began her nightly routine as she continued to overanalyze tomorrow's events. She was in bed, pondering of the possibility of Malfoy locking her in his mansion and slowly killing her, when the front door shut rather loudly. "Well, Ron's home," Hermione thought in a mildly irritated tone. Did she really want to explain to Ron that she would be spending the next day with Malfoy, who Ron still cannot get over disliking five years later, and stay up all night arguing or pretend to be asleep and tell him afterwards? She slowed her breathing and closed her eyes, feigning sleep as he walked in quietly, and got ready for bed. He then kissed her on the forehead before flopping down next to her where he promptly fell into a deep slumber.

Ron's snores changed Hermione's train of thought. She was still trying to wrap her (very large) brain around her quickly approaching nuptials to her fiancé. It had taken two years of healing and rebuilding after the war for her and Ron to get back together. She had decided to take the relationship slow, as there was something about almost dying on multiple occasions that changed Hermione. She was in no hurry to get married quickly or have children. She wanted to enjoy dating, then being engaged. However, the ceremony was in four months, and it seemed like time was passing all too quickly. She had been wondering if she was she making the right decision. "Hermione, stop," she thought to herself. "You love Ron. You are going to marry him. Now, go to sleep or you're going to look like a hag when you meet Malfoy tomorrow." With that, Hermione fell into a dreamless sleep as usual.

oo00oo

"Have a great day at work," Hermione said as she kissed Ron who was on his way out of the door. He smiled and pulled her into a hug, "You too, honey. Dinner together tonight. Okay?" He looked down at her with his goofy grin, and she chuckled as she agreed. "Good. Love you!" He shouted on his way out of the door. "Love you too," she whispered as the door shut.

She was going to meet Malfoy in four hours, and she wanted everything in order. Her need to prove herself back from her days at Hogwarts came crawling out, and she picked out a smart work outfit. It said 'I'm classy, intelligent, and attractive." She didn't know why, but she wanted to show him that she is still more intelligent than him, and most certainly not a "filthy mudblood", but a very attractive woman he could never have. All of her competitiveness was rearing its ugly head as she looked in the mirror. Her hair fell into curls, not just a brown mass. The dark grey skirt was modest, but showed off her well worked calves, the white button up shirt was smart, and hinted that she has indeed filled out since she was 17. Paired with a slightly more daring pair of maroon pumps and a light, smoky peacoat, she looked dang good, even if she was slightly biased. Ginny would be so proud.

Hermione flooed to the ministry to pick up her notes on the marriage law and get some advice from her best friend, Harry. The elevator ride was excruciating. She had 6 memos peg her in the head, and the elevator stopped on every floor. Once she finally arrived at the 5th floor, she jetted into her office to retrieve the paperwork and hurry on to Harry's office in the Auror department.

"Hey, Hermione. You're actually late today. Is something wrong?" asked a deep voice from behind her.

Hermione turned around to see her secretary, Joseph, wearing a concerted face. He was an extremely tall young man at a towering 190 centimeters and skinny as a rail. His black hair was cropped close to his scalp displaying his almost goofily large ears and bright brown eyes. She laughed and told him the full story- he was just as bad as Ginny when it came to collecting gossip. "I have the day off as I will be working at Malfoy Manor to research the marriage law today at the Minister's orders." Joseph's face paled and he looked slightly scared which was almost humorous for his size.

"Why do you have to go there?" he asked, his thick eyebrows knitted together while chewing on his bottom lip.

"Don't worry about me. The Malfoy library simply has more information than the Ministry's library. I'll be fine. I promise," Hermione soothed even though her anxiety was tearing her up on the inside. This seemed to appease the young man for the time being, so Hermione took advantage of his slight pause, "Well, I have to go talk to Harry. Can you please take the documents on my desk about the muggle memory law and give them to Travis? They might help him." He smiled and nodded quickly, eager to take orders from the famous war hero. "Thank you," she called out on her way out of the office.

Another painful experience in the creaky old elevator got her to Harry's department with an hour to spare before she had to meet Malfoy. Hermione knocked quickly on his door before inviting herself in. She found Harry lifting his messy hair out of his eyes and his head off his desk from the nap he had be previously engaged in. She giggled at his mop-like hair and dopy expression and sat across from him. "Having a slow day?" She asked.

"You don't even know," he groaned. "Now why are you here exactly? Not to be rude, I just usually don't see you this early at work," he quickly amended himself as to not offend his friend.

"I have a bit of a predicament. I have to go to Malfoy manor to research a law. I don't think Kingsley would send me there unless it was a last resort, but I don't know how to handle it," she explained, then jumped and added, "Oh! Please don't tell Ron. I haven't told him yet because you know he'll throw a fit, and I didn't have time for a fight over something I can't change last night."

"Well.." Harry begun as he contemplated the situation. He was obviously uncomfortable with the situation. "This is just a business deal, so treat it as that, but if he hurts you I will kill him." Hermione rolled her eyes at the last bit, but it was good advice. "If he calls you a you-know-what, ignore him. Don't let him bully you, but don't go in assuming that he hasn't changed since we were kids. But also don't let it surprise you if he hasn't."

"No expectations. When did you get so good at advice?" Hermione joked, winking at Harry.

"Since I actually began listening to you," he laughed.

Hermione glanced down at her watch. 11:50.

"Oh! I have to go. Love you Harry!" she hollered as she ran out of the room, not even bothering to listen for a reply.

The elevator couldn't seem to move slower as Hermione checked her watch every few seconds. In a stroke of luck, she made it to the Floo with exactly one minute to spare. She yelled, "155 Burberry Lane Avebury, Biddestone, Wiltshire!" and walked into the flames.

She stumbled out into a seemingly abandoned house in the country. The floral wallpaper was falling off in shreds, the floor had gaping holes decorating it, and the ceiling bowed in uncomfortably in the small room she landed in. Gripping her wand, she scanned her surroundings for threats. The war will never fully leave those it affected.

"Hello? Malfoy?" Hermione called out, still on alert for potential attacks. A familiar voice echoed from behind her, "Granger?"

Hermione swung around with wand out and a spell at the tip of her tongue as she pointed her wand at a very surprised Draco Malfoy.

A.N./ Please feel free to review with comments, criticisms, or critiques. I hope you have a fabulous day.