Chapter Text
It all started when Hermione hurried into Ron and Harry’s office with the look of one whose Thursday had not gone well. ‘So glad I caught you.’
‘Hey Hermione, what’s up?’ Ron greeted her from behind the mountain of paperwork that had taken over his desk. In the years since Hogwarts, Ron and Harry had worked their way up to being special investigative Aurors and while they both enjoyed taking on more significant cases they did not appreciate the paperwork. Ron often joked that the only special part of their jobs was the number of forms involved.
‘Walters is sending me back to New York this weekend and I really need one of you to watch Crooks.’
‘Sorry Mione, we are on assignment this weekend.’ Harry did look genuinely regretful. ‘Isn’t this the third time this month you are out of town? Is the Department of Mysteries short on workers?’
‘Or maybe they are conducting experiments regarding how much work the Brightest Witch of her age can handle?’ Ron joked.
Hermione shot him a look that clearly said today was not the day to joke with her. Hermione had already been in the States twice in the past three weeks. The Department of Mysteries was beginning a collaboration with some American witches who were experimenting with enhancing muggle technology with magic. The work was exciting and exactly what Hermione had dreamed of when she joined the department, but repeated time zone changes had worn her down. ‘I am the only worker with a background in muggle technology, so I have to be the ministry liaison. What about Ginny, Harry? Could she take Crooks?’
‘Sorry, out of town for the Falcons match Sunday.’
‘Ugh, I knew that! Tell her I said ‘good luck’’ Hermione had started pacing.
‘Have you asked Luna?’
‘I couldn’t get a hold of her. She is probably out on a new quest’ Hermione said, completing another looping in the small office.
‘Mum might be able to help? You could owl her,’ somehow this sounded more like a question than a statement from Ron and Hermione really hated to ask anything of Molly as the women already did so much for her.
‘Well, look at this little party. Should I be upset that I wasn't invited?’ Draco leaned on the doorframe taking in the scene.
‘Hey mate, you here about the Markins case?’ Harry greeted the newcomer.
‘I am. Think Weasley owes me some files’ Draco worked as a legal counsel to the Auror office and often consulted with Harry and Ron. Originally things had been frosty between them, but after playing on the departmental quidditch team together for a couple years they had grown quite friendly.
‘Yes, they are here… somewhere’ Ron began sifting through the Everest of information on his desk. Hermione was forever harping on him to tidy his desk, but Ron insisted he had a system. He looked up from the stack of files he was sorting through and gave Hermione a mischievous grin worthy of Fred and George. ‘Hermione was just telling us she needs a favor. Weren’t you?’
‘Umm’ Hermione sent a glare at Ron who was completely unfazed.
‘What do you need? Theo didn’t try to rope you into his new dark artifacts project did he?’ Draco turned his full attention to Hermione.
‘No, well yes he did, but I slipped out of it. I just have to go away again this weekend’ Hermione obfuscated.
‘Again? You only got back into town Saturday. Walters can’t give you a weekend off?’
‘Well, it is an important project and we are all excited to see the collaboration move forward.’
‘And of course you were the only witch for the job’ Draco looked up at the ceiling as if asking for patience ‘You need to put your foot down. You are brilliant, but you still need sleep.’
‘You’re one to talk. You were still in your office at one am on Tuesday’ Work-life balance had been an ongoing discussion between the two of them.
‘Here is the file you were looking for’ Ron handed a long scroll to Draco then turned towards Hermione and added ‘she is looking for someone to watch her beast this weekend.’
‘Crookshanks, you are trying to pawn that nightmare off on your friends?’ It was well known that Hermione’s cat hated Draco and he returned the sentiment.
‘He is not that bad, you just got off on the wrong foot’ Hermione defended
The blonde rolled his eyes ‘yes, I am sure he is a secret angel.’ He paused, took a moment to have an internal debate, then added ‘If he needs a place to stay this weekend I can take him.’
‘Oh, I couldn’t ask you to do that knowing how you feel about him’ Ron and Harry, who had both been listening intently while aimlessly shuffling papers about both guffawed at this.
‘Yeah, you never know what kind of damage Crookshanks could manage to cause Draco given a whole weekend’ Ron joked.
‘Might not both make it out alive’ Harry added. Draco glared at the pair of them.
‘Hermione, if you need someone to watch him I am glad to do it. I mean, how much trouble can a cat be?’ Seeing that she still wasn’t convinced he added ‘Unless you do think I am planning to off him while you are away?’
‘No, no, not at all. I trust you not to kill my cat. It would be lovely if you could watch Crooks.’ She finally met his eyes and gave a small smile.
‘Perfect. Do you want to bring him over tonight or tomorrow?’
‘Does eight tonight work?’
‘See you then.’
There was an awkward pause then Hermione bustled out the door murmuring something about a meeting. Draco watched her go before turning back to the Aurors. ‘I also wanted to ask your opinion on the Brustan case.’
Harry nodded and gestured to the chair in front of his desk. The three men fell into a deep conversation regarding which charges would be most appropriate given the evidence. This eventually devolved into talk of their upcoming interdepartmental quidditch match. As Draco was getting up to leave Harry gave him a serious look. ‘Hermione may be a Gryffindor, but if you want anything to happen between you two, you are going to have to make a move.’ Draco stared at him for a beat then nodded before heading out the door.