Full chapter one..



Chapter One: Silent Tears

you tell me that life is darker for my leaving
but you cannot see this place that I am seeing
~Depart in Peace

“ 'Lo Granger.” Bedivere Coracle waved to me, I used to work with him a few months ago in the Department of International Magical Cooperation, incorporating the International Magical Trading Standards of Body, the International Magical Office of Law, and the International Confederation of Wizards, British Seats.

“ Hello Bedivere, hows it been at level five, been swamped with work yet?” I asked him.

“ Ever since you left yes, the boss never admitted how much you really did for us till you left and when he tried to get you back you'd already been reassigned. Were you working now?” Bedivere chuckled.

“ Department of Magical Transport.” I joined halfheartedly in his laughter.

“ Oh dang. Level five already, take care Granger.” Bedivere waved once more at me then quickly exited. Two young men got on once he left.

“ Lee, I'm telling you. Petitioning will get you no where.” The younger man was arguing a little loudly.

“ Vladimir, I have contacts here in the ministry, I promise you something will happen.” Lee laughed, his voice sounded familiar.

“ Lee Jordan?” I was surprised.

“ Hermione!” He also was surprised.

“ It's been ages since I last saw you Lee, hows George doing?” Thinking of George made me thing of Fred, which made me think of Ron.

“ He's doing better since.. Well you know what.” Lee couldn't bring himself to say what after all this time. I nodded then remained silent, not being able to think of anything else I could say. The Weasley family was a hard subject to talk about with ending up in fighting or tears, not after Fred was killed, and not after Ron was murdered. Harry and Ginny weren't married or even talking to each other, each blaming them selves for Ron's death. It was rather stupid of them to bicker about a thing like this, but then again, it wasn't. It's not my place to think about these things, it's my place to shut up and start listening more attentively to what the teachers saying, little perfect prefect, I remember when Ron called me that. NO! Don't think of Ron.

“ Hey Hermione, don't you work at the department of magical transport?” Lee asked unexpectedly wrenching me away from my thoughts of Ron.

“ Yes why?” I obviously was confused.

“ We are at level seven.” He laughed slightly.

“ Oh yea. Great.” I thanked him before entering in to the long hall way.

“ Miss Granger?” A short homely old witch looked at me.

“ Yes?” I responded.

“ This way to meet your new boss.” She nodded at me to follow her, which I did. We finally approached a door at the end of the hallway.” Go on in, he's expecting you.” She then turned and left. I opened the door and entered, but nothing could have prepared me to see what I saw. Draco Malfoy sat at the desk scribbling fast with his head bent over a paper. He looked up to see who entered.

“ Ah, miss Granger.” He said crisply looking me up and down once.

“ M-Malfoy?!” I stuttered shocked.

“ Yep, that's me.” Draco glowered at me. I did my best to bight my tongue and to not make a rude comment, he was after all my boss.” Your office will be number thirty seven. If you have any problems contact me or Mr Gide. Anything else you need to know?” He suddenly became more serious, and his glower died.

“ No, I'm all set, I worked here two years ago.” I tried, and possibly failed to keep my face straight and to not glare at him, quickly I exited the room and got ready for a day of work.

*** The next day

Hermione let her silent tears roll down her cheeks as she sat on her bed dressed in a pair of skinny jeans and a lacy black shirt. She stared at the image of Ron, Harry, Ginny and her at Hogwarts in her sixth year. It was a Saturday so there was no work today fortunately, over the passed day and today Hermione found herself thinking more and more about the Weasley's. The knock on the door surprised her slightly, but she was half expecting it. Hermione hastily hid the photo in her desk then went to the door to greet the person on the door.

“ Hi.” Ginny waved slightly, she had unnatural black hair other then at the roots which where still red.

“ Um.. Come on Gin, may I ask why you have black hair?” Hermione was visibly shocked. Ginny laughed, or at least used her fake laugh which sounded raspy and abnormal, she shook her head slightly to get the long strands of black hair out of her face.

“ For the play I'm in.. They said they would like black hair. You have any Firewhiskey?” Ginny abruptly changed the subject.

“ No I don't.. I haven't been to the store in ages.. I eat at the Ministry.” Hermione said as they entered her living room.

“ No wonder your skinnier then a stick.” Ginny laughed again, this one a little bit less raspy and fake.” But seriously, you should eat more.. And speaking of the Ministry hows work?”

“ It's.. Work.. If I was asked if I enjoyed it I would say I don't but just because my new boss is Ferret.” Hermione didn't even smile, she hadn't smiled in ages.

“ Ooh. I always secretly thought he was cute.. But I'd never say that in front of Ron.” Ginny decided that pushing the hair out of her face was more efficient.

“ So, to what do I owe this visit?” Hermione asked, she and Ginny weren't really friends anymore, not after everything.

“ Harry.” Ginny's grin and laugh immediately died away.

“ Need advice or does he want to talk to me?” Hermione hated this subject, but it was better then Ron.

“ Kinda both, he always wants to see you.. But, Hermione I don't think he loves me anymore.” Sorrow crept into Ginny's eyes.

“ Ginevra Molly Weasley, that is the stupidest thing I have ever heard, Harry loves you a great deal. You just need to talk to him about it.” Hermione resisted rolling her eyes.

“ You sound just like my mum when she was talking to Ron, well using other words of course.” Ginny snorted. Hermione felt tears starting to well up again.” Oh my gosh! Hermione, I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have.. You still love him don't you.” Ginny only realized that what she was saying made it worse after she said it.” Hermione, look at me please! What...” Ginny immediately pulled out her wand summoned the best memory she could and then used her patronus messenger. This was really bad, Hermione was having a heart attack or a seizure whichever this was extremely not good. Several healers arrived within the minute and Hermione was taken to St Mungo's, Ginny hope that she hadn't killed her friend or ex-friend. Ginny really didn't care, Hermione was still her friend, or so she hoped...

*** Later on that day.

I awoke with a extreme head ache and my chest throbbing in pain. The place I was in smelled off, there was the stench of cleanliness.

“ What the.. Where am I?” I sat up confused. Immediately healers approached and pushed back down in to a lying position.” Well that answers where I am, but why?”

“ You.. Were attacked from behind on your way out of work Mr Malfoy.” One of the healers replied. I rolled my eyes. Sometimes I wonder how healers become healers if they are normally this stupid! I know I was attacked, I want to know what spells hit me. But I guess I'll just take what they said as a answer for now. Someday when I catch the culprits that did this I will make them wish they never were born. But that was just a wish for now, I'd have to wait till I was out of St Mungo's. Closing my eyes I started listening to the noises in this room.

“ Is she going to be okay?” I heard a familiar voice.

“ I don't know, she'll live.. But not sure what exactly happened. You where there when this happened, what do you know about it?” The healer who was just talking to him a second ago answered.

“ Well uh, I came over to visit her and we were talking about er.. Well stuff and my brother her fiancee that was murdered was brought up and then this started happening.” I realized who the girl was, Ginny Weasley.

“ So then this happened.” The healer repeated. Someone else entered, they swore loudly as they entered.

“ What happened? Is Hermione going to be alright.” The person who swore I easily recognized as Potter. I sat up curious.

“ She had a heart attack and she's going to live.” Weaslette responded. I could see her, but she had.. Black hair!?! And then there was Potter and the healer all around a bed.

“ D-” Harry decided it was best not to swear again.” Why me, why do all my friends have to get wounded really badly what did I ever do!”

“ You got Voldemort really mad at you, normally he kills or tries to kill all your friends and family in case you hadn't noticed Potter.” I said, it had the effect I wanted, Potter spun around with his wand drawn.

“ Malfoy. And you would know how?” Potter spat.

“ In case you hadn't heard, my parents were killed and so were many of my friends.” I responded in the same tone of voice he used. He ignored this glared at me then turned back to the bed that the mudblood was obviously on.

“ What the heck is going on.. Where am I, why am I in St. Mungo's.. WHAT HAPPENED?!” The mudblood obviously woke up and answered one of her own questions, good for her.

“ HEALER! SHE'S AWAKE!” Ginny yelled, if Hermione wasn't awake before that she was now, my ears were still ringing as the healer ran over a minute later.

“ Whaaaaat happened?! Why is it.. What is going someone tell me what is going on, please!” Hermione sounded like she was about to loose it.

“ You apparently had a heart attack because Miss Weasley was talking about your.. Fiancee. And so you obviously had to be taken here.” Honestly I swear if I have to answer all of the perfect trio's questions..

“ Draco? I mean Malfoy.. I mean.. GAH!” Hermione shrieked. I was trying my best to hold in my laughter, Hermione was seriously either mental or really angry, and the last time she was really angry she slapped me.. I don't want that experience repeated, leaning me more in the favor of wanting her crazy.

“ Seriously Malfoy shut up! Your driving Hermione crazy.” Potter snapped.

“ He's not driving me crazy.” Hermione said as she rubbed her eyes.

“ What?” Ginny sounded shocked.

“ What did I say?” Hermione turned to face the red head.

“ You said that Malfoy wasn't driving you crazy..” Ginny just stared at Hermione dumbfounded.

“ Well your the one that said he was cute.” Hermione retorted,

“ WHAT?!” Potter and I yelled at the same time.

“ QUIET! Your going to wake up the other patients.” The healer sounded incredibly annoyed.

“ Thanks a lot Mione.” Ginny glared at her.

“ Well I'm... Not even going there.” Hermione changed her mind about what she was going to say.

“ I'm probably not even going to ask.” Ginny started to laugh a little. I closed my eyes again and started to drift off in to sleep, not really paying any attention to the conversations that were going on around me.

*** Elsewhere that day.

Air swept over me as if the wind had blown on me but it was bitter, cold and sad. I felt my chest sudden tighten up and star squeezing my heart. I felt something coming towards me, something that shouldn't belong here. I gasped slightly as I felt the world start to freeze, the soft grass that lay warmly by my bare feet started to frost over with tiny flecks of snow.

“ Bavaria. To what do I owe this unexpected meeting, it better be news worth hearing, the last time you reported to me I had glass shards stuck in my skin that were not able to be removed for a long time. And the scars still remain, so speak up if it is new I want, leave if it is not.” My own cold voice surprised me as I spoke. I never had experienced such sadness before in my life, and I know not why.

“ The news is worth hearing.” Bavaria rasped, her tone wavering in fear ever so slightly that you had to have ears of fox to hear it.” The attack has been done.. Mistress Granger has been affected, but.” Bavaria stopped.

“ But what?” I was deadly calm, so calm it must have shocked Bavaria.

“ But Mistress Weasley-Potter was there and stopped me from performing the full affect.” Fear was starting to control Bavaria's speech.” Mistress Granger is still recovering in St Mungo's. We were not able to do what we wished, but we got close enough.. The sun shall shine on her once again.” Bavaria finished with a odd sneer. I gasped again, but this time in interest, Bavaria had uncovered another weakness of hers. If only she would do that more often she would be completely under my control, and so would her people. But I already basically knew this fear.

“ I forgot Bavaria, you and your kind hate sunlight.” My tiny grin widened.

“ The dementors shall always hate it, it is to bright and full of happiness. But why, you have never explained how we do not affect you.” Bavaria sounded as interested as a dementor could sound, which was quite interested surprisingly, I happen to be the only one who figured out how to free dementors from there curse of silence. They where quite charming dear little things if you had never felt a happy moment in your life.

“ I've never had a reason to be happy.” My grin started to recede.” But that doesn't matter, Bavaria you did as much as you could do.” I would have to pleased with this, at least until my next plans came in to shape...

*** Two weeks later.

I glared at the yellowed parchment that lay on my desk. as if it was all it's fault, tears came unbidden and started welling up in my brown eyes and then slowly start a path down my pale cheeks. My quill dropped from my weak grip in my fingers on to the complex detailed stone floor in the Ministry of Magic. My lower lip started to tremble but no noise emitted from my dry mouth. I squeezed my glossy eyes shut as if closing them hard enough would make all the things I had seen disappear and make my life easier. I fell against the back of my seat and stayed there for what seemed hours, till I was wrenched my thoughts of times I spent with Ron Weasley, by someone arriving and trying to talk to me.

“ Uh.. Hermione?” I looked up opening my eyes as I did so and stared in to the deep grey eyes of Draco Malfoy, and he was sitting on my desk.

“ Get off my desk Malfoy!” I yelped in surprise.

“ That's the very first you thing you say after I find you crying silently to yourself after your supposed to be done with work.” Draco Malfoy somehow mixed amusement and.. Worry? Into the same tone.

“ Here.. If you don't like that I'll ask you some questions. Why did you call me by my first name? Why are you in my office? Why are you on my desk? Why do you sound worried? What time is it?” I sighed before asking him my tirade of questions.

“ Woaah! That's a lot of questions.” Draco grinned at me. Whhyyy?” One, I because you were not answering to anything else I called you, two because I noticed that you hadn't left, because it's somewhere to sit, I'm not worried. Okay fine I am, I'm worried because it's three am and it looks like you haven't eaten or slept in days and I don't want you or anyone passing out when there supposed to be working.” Draco grabbed on to my arm and pulled me out of my chair. I blinked in surprise as he started to lead me to the bottom floor. We arrived there not saying anything to each other till we arrived out side of the Ministry.

“ Where are you taking me?” I asked suspiciously.

“ Somewhere you can eat, drink and sleep now shut up and stop asking questions.. I'm trying to concentrate.” Draco half snapped at me. I decided that I didn't want to bother him, but before I could decide if I wanted to ask him where he was taking me again he apparated us somewhere.

I blinked several times hardly recognizing where we were. There where tall green leafy hedges properly trimmed. I heard the faint distant sounds of fountains and noticed a few glistening pure white marble statues of peacocks, my gasp was hardly audible and I doubted that Draco might have even heard it because he took my hand in his slightly soft but rather rough hand, then led me through a majestic ivy covered stone archway in to one of the most beautiful gardens I had ever seen, then it finally dawned on me I was.

“ Draco.” I whispered.” Draco.” I tried again, this time louder. He stopped and turned to face me.” Is this Malfoy Manor?” My tone was deadly serious as I asked him this.

“ Took you long enough, now is there anything else you want to ask me or can we go inside, your freezing.” The last part he stated not asked. The inside I must confess was much nicer looking then when I last been here two years ago when Draco's aunt Bellatrix tortured me. Everything was silvery white and well polished. It was to bright looking for a family as dark as his. Then we entered a living room, well I assume Malfoy Manor has several living rooms, this one was colored dark green with a pale cold trim. This room seemed much more welcoming then the rest of the house I had been in so far, maybe it was because of the fire in here.” You sit here and don't pass out, I'll get you something to eat.” Draco ordered as he led me to one of the many couches, I nodded not really paying any attention to what he said. I stared in to the firelight for some time, eventually I heard a faint apparation like crack in the background then everything went black...