Work Text:
Cover commissioned with Dracodormiensss
Alternate cover art by Flyora.art
14th June 2018
Dear whomever this may concern, I am writing as Senior Undersec—
Malfoy,
Dear Draco Malfoy,
To my school nemesis who I definitely did not have a massive crush on
Dear the loathsome piece of shit who dumped me in order to marry a Pureblood and whom I now have to work with on a sodding article for the damn Prophet,
Oh sod this where’s my Quick Quotes Quill.
{End of voice transcription}
15th June 2018
Dear Mr. Malfoy,
I am writing to you as Special Correspondent for The Daily Prophet regarding the 275th Grand Anniversary Edition, to be published in November.
The edition will feature popular anniversary segments such as ‘Prominent Names of the Day’, ‘Where Are They Now’ and ‘Quarter-Century Quandaries’, to name a few.
As Senior Undersecretary to the Minister for Magic, I have been personally requested to conduct an interview with none other than ‘The Greatest Philanthropist of Our Age’, a title you’ve somehow managed to acquire before the age of 40.
My hat would go off to you if I wore one.
Based on my cursory research of your many admirable achievements, I believe our focus for the article should be your sizable donations to the Janus Thickey Ward at Saint Mungo’s and The Granger Foundation for Muggle-born Children, plus the Nimbus 3000 broom donation for the entire Holyhead Harpies team this past spring, leading to their first cup win in 10 years.
I hear that Ginevra Potter, Manager of said team, thanked you personally for that one already. I hope you enjoyed the scotch, I recalled it being a favourite.
Please let me know if you are amenable to a meeting; I can offer a conference suite at the ministry and free lunch.
Adversely, I am not against sending you a list of questions to respond to in your own time.
Sincerely,
Hermione Granger,
Senior Undersecretary to the Minister for Magic
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
16th June 2018
Granger,
It’s been decades since our impassioned tryst and I can still taste the venom in your ink. Are you still so cross with me?
How about we meet over a glass of wine to air things out?
I’d hate for your lingering distaste of me to flavour what's sure to be your finest written work to date.
Yours,
Draco Lucius Malfoy,
‘The Greatest Philanthropist of Our Age’
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
P.S. The benefactor of The Granger Foundation for Muggle-born Children was undisclosed and the records sealed, therefore I assume you are merely surmising that the donation came from the Malfoy vaults and that you have not used your grand powers at The Ministry to unseal confidential documents.
1st July 2018
Dear Mr. Malfoy,
Apologies for my late reply, I’ve been occupied with handling reporters over the past two weeks and time got away from me. Who knew the resignation of the Minister for Magic after two decades would cause such a media circus?
I suppose it’s always inevitable. They are looking for a story and a fight to the death for potential candidates… but still, why can’t they just report on the facts, instead of the salacious gossip?
And before you say that you knew before anyone else, like you always seem to with official Ministry news—despite being an external consultant—I have it on good authority that aside from Kingsley’s wife, I was the first to be told.
Regarding your previous missive, Calling an 18 month relationship an ‘impassioned tryst’ only indicates how out of touch you still are on the matter.
Wonderful to see things have not changed.
I hardly think a drink is appropriate given the circumstances, and I am not interested in rekindling a personal relationship out of this business obligation.
Please find a draft list of questions for your comments and/or responses.
Sincerely,
Hermione Granger,
Senior Undersecretary to the Minister for Magic
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
P.S. Actually, we don’t all share your propensity for meddling with Ministry affairs. Your mother informed me.
1st July 2018
Granger,
I had a personal meeting with Magdelena Shacklebolt early last month, a pleasant woman, keen financial mind. Reading between the lines of the conversation, I felt the shift coming up.
Not sure if you’d constitute that as ‘knowing official ministry news’ but it certainly helped in preparing my own businesses ahead of time for the political instability.
Were you hoping media bias would stop with Rita Skeeter? Afraid not. I find it both intriguing and endearing that all your years climbing the Ministry ranks have not yet taught you how to work the press to your favour.
Also wonderful to see things have not changed much.
I’ve reviewed your proposed questions. You’ll find my notes in red ink.
Yours,
Draco
P.S. By the way, not sure if you’ve noticed considering how frazzled you are these days but your owl is on her last legs. Can’t you put the poor girl out of her misery? Isn’t it time she retired?
2nd July 2018
Dear Mrs. Cho Thomas, Editor of The Daily Prophet
I am writing to inform you that despite the many years since mine and Mr. Malfoy’s romantic relationship, I believe that the conflict of interest still stands. Therefore, unfortunately, I must rescind my offer to contribute to the Anniversary Edition.
Might I suggest Mrs. Pansy Parkinson-Greengrass? As you know, her wife, Daphne, owns a publishing house in France; I’m sure they would be delighted to be asked to contribute and would write Mr. Malfoy in a light that your readers would better appreciate.
In addition, given the Minister’s recent announcement, I am also not sure whether I should offer my quill for future pieces. This may pose questions of propaganda and media bias while I begin campaigning.
Thank you for your understanding.
Sincerely,
Hermione Granger,
Senior Undersecretary to the Minister for Magic
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
3rd July 2018
Malfoy,
You’ve completely re-written the focus on the article!
The piece is about ‘The Greatest Philanthropist of Our Age’; I thought you would relish the opportunity to embellish upon all your magnanimous achievements.
I have to say I’m very surprised that you wish the write-up to focus on the causes as opposed to the benefactor. Or do you feel you’ve been able to claw the Malfoy name out of the dirt enough to not give it credence here?
What strategy are you trying to pull?
Also, considering so many of these causes have MY name attached to them, have you not considered how this will look, especially if I am the one writing the article?
Regards,
Hermione Granger,
Senior Undersecretary to the Minister for Magic
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
P.S. Archimedes would lose all her remaining feathers from stress if she could read your suggestion of retiring.
3rd July 2018
Granger,
That sorry excuse for a bird barely has two feathers left to rub together.
Please meet Athena, is she not lovely? She will not be making a return trip without a letter confirming her adoption.
Athena is a one year old, Purebred Greater Sooty Owl eager for work. If Archimedes is so desperate to continue serving, I imagine she will be enthralled to mentor young Athena through her last weeks of life.
If it is your wish to refuse this graciously bestowed gift, look into her black sparkly eyes first and tell her no yourself as you reject her.
Draco
P.S. You writing the article is precisely why this should be focussed on the causes and not the benefactor, Granger.
4th July 2018
Dear Hermione,
I hope my missive finds you well.
I understand your trepidation for continuing to contribute your words to The Daily Prophet, however I do have information that might sway your mind on the matter.
Maybe you are already aware, but Mr. Percy Weasley is intending to also run for office. I am only sharing this (what should be confidential) information as Mr. Weasley has been very open about his mission here at The Prophet.
He has been approved for a front page article, a centre page spread (Yes, I gather you had the same reaction as me) and a double-page, in depth interview on his vision for the Wizarding Britain of the 2020s.
If I am the first to give you this news, then I hope I will be effective when I say that now is not the time to back down and reduce your visibility in the press.
I have already put in a proposal for the same print allowance to be granted to all candidates, as I too believe in media boundaries and safeguarding. However, this call has been met by deaf golden ears. You will need to secure similar funds as Mr. Weasley in order to acquire the print space.
Clearly, as you can see, The Prophet still has a long way to go in its quest for impartiality.
Another point you may not be aware of, but it was Mr. Malfoy’s specific request to have the article written by you. I thought you might benefit from that knowledge.
Maybe take this up with Mr. Malfoy directly and see if you can bridge this decades long gap?
Warm regards,
Cho Thomas, Society Editor
The Daily Prophet
P.S. Will I see you at Harry’s birthday at the end of the month? The kids are looking forward to seeing Rose and Hugo again and Mei has developed a fixation on puffskeins and is desperate to show off her plush collection to the pair. Anyone would think the summer lasted a year long. Didn’t it used to feel so much longer when we were in school?
6th July 2018
Dear Malfoy,
I have a number of things to discuss with you that would benefit from a stiff drink to accompany.
However, considering I am now fully in ‘campaign manifesto mode’ for the Minister for Magic position and Ronald has taken his fiancé skiing for the summer—meaning I have the children full time on top of everything else and I simply do not have the capacity to play your games for an entire evening in addition to all of the above.
My gripes are as follows:
- I have been informed by a trusted source that you requested me specifically for The Daily Prophet article?! So nice to know that I wasn’t asked based on my own merit. It seems, even as Senior Undersecretary to the Minister for Magic (with an Order of Merlin, 1st Class!), I still need a pureblood to vouch for me in order to have my voice heard.
- Did you know that Percy Weasley was planning to run for Minister? I know we have not been on speaking terms the past 16 years, but instead of pulling strings around the houses to vie for my support, how about taking a more direct route and telling me in person? Why do I always have to find out your secrets from other people?
- This isn’t so much a gripe, as a third point just to inflate this gripes section. Though I prefer to choose my own service animals, the moment Athena arrived Archimedes relaxed a great deal and has even managed a daily nap, her colouring looks a lot better and the two have even been preening one another. Please find attached her adoption confirmation. Did she come from your private owlery?
Regards,
Hermione Granger,
Senior Undersecretary to the Minister for Magic
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
P.S. I have rewritten the article questions, added three more causes the Malfoy vaults have donated to, not only the ones you have made in my name, and provided all the stats and insights on the causes you might need for your responses. As you are a silent beneficiary on at least one of the causes, I doubt you’d know much of their progress over the past two decades.
10th July 2018
Dear Malfoy,
Your visit to my office at the weekend was unexpected but clearly necessary.
I apologise for my rudeness. It had been a long week.
I am glad that we were able to hash some things out. After reviewing your extensive responses provided in print on the aforementioned causes, specifically The Granger Foundation for Muggle-born Children, I will begin drafting the article.
I have to say, I am more than pleasantly surprised how closely you’ve followed these. I still cannot understand why you put the Foundation in my name and not your own, or at the very least hyphenated. Not very Slytherin of you.
I should be able to get a version to you in the next few weeks for review.
While campaigning is about to go into full swing, further correspondence may be delayed.
Kind regards,
Hermione Granger,
Senior Undersecretary to the Minister for Magic
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
P.S. That Italian-roasted coffee mocha was exactly what I needed. Please tell me you didn’t actually Floo all the way to Rome for it?
11th July 2018
Hermione,
I’ll wait as long as necessary for a response, especially when they come with fresh compliments.
No, it wasn’t necessary to Floo to Rome for the coffee, we have an Italian Barista Duo at the manor available at all times of day. I’ll give your positive remarks to the team.
You have said previously you’d prefer me come to you directly with my machinations as opposed to going around the houses. Well, just so everything is out in the open, you will find a retainer has been opened at The Daily Prophet for all of your media needs.
This can similarly be found with Witch Weekly and The Quibbler. All three have ads running till the end of the year with your slogan and campaign image.
I would love to say you’re welcome, but I am already anticipating the howler and am cowering in a muggle bookshop so don’t even try it.
Yours,
Draco
11th July 2018
What slogan and campaign image?!
Also, what the heck are you doing in a muggle bookshop?!
11th July 2018
Enclosed.
And, purchasing muggle books of course. Scorpius is obsessed with a series about the world being run by metal muggle machines and living on the moon.
I would question his parentage if he wasn't my lookalike in every way.
HERMIONE GRANGER
BRIGHTEST WITCH OF HER AGE
Guiding the Way to a Brighter Magical Future
11th July 2018
Draco,
I really want to be mad at you right now. But this is brilliant.
Thank you,
Hermione
13th July 2018
Dear Draco,
I want to know, no need to know why.
Not just why you seem so intent on helping me become Minister for Magic, the first Muggle-born one especially, but why—over all these years—you’ve supported every cause I’ve shown even a smidge of interest in.
I feel like I owe all my life’s work to you. It doesn’t make me feel good.
Is it out of guilt? Is it so I’m beholden to you for some future where you’ll ask for recompense? Or is it to show you still have control over my heart's desires, decades later?
You’ve made sure I’ve felt you with me every step of the way.
Sometimes it has felt like a comfort, other times it has felt like manacles.
Did you know I only married Ron because I couldn’t imagine opening my heart to anyone new after you? All I did was fall back into the familiar, and he welcomed me in with open arms.
Ron always loved the idea of me, wanted to be the one to save me, to mould me into his perfect little wife.
But I was never going to be a Molly Weasley.
I think you always understood that about me. You always saw our relationship as a partnership where we would push each other to achieve our ultimate potential. No aspiration too great. No dream too wild.
Ron was looking for a homebody who adored him more than life itself. Someone who put him first, always.
I could never be that for him.
But you, for you I would have been anything.
Yours,
Hermione
P.S. I might have had one too many mulberry wines at the office summer party and regret this bid for honesty in the morning.
P.P.S. What pellets were you feeding Athena? She keeps turning her nose up at anything I attempt to supply.
13th July 2018
Hermione,
You’re in luck, Athena caught me just before I turned in for the evening. And oh, am I glad she did. You’re starving my owl!
Pellets?! Pellets?! It’s no wonder your own owl is on death's door. Are you telling me you’ve been flying that owl daily for the past 10+ years on nothing but pellets?
I should write to that muggle helpline on you.
The RSPCA, that’s the one. What does that stand for again? The Radical Society of Petulant Carers of Animals?
You’ll be delighted to note that she’s arriving back to you with a full belly and a sample bag of the fresh albanian mice she is partial to. I can have those specially imported for you if you so desire?
With regards to the actual contents of your letter. Firstly, I hope the office summer party was a success. I did receive a plus one invite from your secretary, Bones; but I didn’t think it appropriate considering the person I really wanted to be there with didn’t invite me herself.
I may have also partaken in some social lubricant tonight. However, sans social, it’s just rather sad. Scorp is spending the weekend with the Longbottoms. Apparently he needs little encouragement to diversify his friends list. The manor is empty without him, and my mother has taken ill this past week.
I’ve told her she needs to go to Saint Mungo's, or at least let me call in a private healer, but she won’t hear any of it.
Secondly, the part of this letter I’ve been avoiding.
Why help you achieve every dream you have? Why help you pursue every cause you set your heart on? Why support your journey to become the first muggle-born Minister for Magic?
Because it’s my duty.
Breaking a contract signed in blood magic would have, at best, cursed you to a life always looking over your shoulder, and at worst, a painful drawn out death. Even explaining that to you at the time could have doomed us both. The magic was volatile.
All of this to say, I made promises to you. So many promises. And although I broke the main one… I wanted to uphold as many of them as I could, even those I’d only made silently, in those quiet hours, when your sleepy head lay on my chest—
14th July 2018
Granger,
I apologise for my rambling thoughts in my last letter. I don’t even know how I finished it off, your damn bird must have plucked it out of my sleepy dreaming hands.
She’s becoming as persistent as you.
I hope it conveyed everything you needed to hear, in order to understand that everything I’ve done over the years to support you has been… for you.
Not to guilt you. Not out of obligation. Certainly not out of control.
Just because I wanted you to have as close to the life as we would have had together, as possible.
Yours,
Draco
18th July 2018
Hermione,
Please write back. I’m sorry. I wish I had created copies of my letters so I could re-read them and know where I crossed the line.
You know I even bought a pensieve? Finest piece of stonework you’ve ever seen—but that’s besides the point—the sodding thing barely worked. Alcohol, lost loves and memories apparently don’t mix.
I’m tearing my hair out here.
Yours,
Draco
P.S. Excellent piece in Witch Weekly, they printed that out faster than expected. My Gods, you still rock a pencil skirt so well.
15th July 2018
Dear Draco,
How would you know about the RSPCA? It stands for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals… but I commend your attempt at the acronym.
I did read your letters. They were… illuminating. I needed some time to rewrite the stories I’ve been repeating in my mind over these many years.
Thank you for imparting more of the details of the betrothal to Astoria. They have been a festering wound in my mind all these years.
Do you ever wonder if we’ll ever have the chance again?
I confess, I should be focussing more on this campaign… but if both doors were open, and I had to choose…
I know which door I’d be taking.
Yours,
Hermione
19th July 2018
Malfoy,
You do realise that tit for tat delayed responses are childish and immature? Just because I was unable to formulate a reply to your—quite frankly—earth shattering revelations, does not give you the right to also draw out your response to me.
Sincerely,
A rather cross and very busy woman!
20th July 2018
Hermione,
Again I must apologise. You know, I don’t think I’ve ever apologised so much in my life than I have in our letters? Perhaps I have a lifetime to be sorry about.
My mother took a turn and is in a private ward at Saint Mungo’s. She is still very young, even by muggle standards, and although the healers aren’t certain of her diagnosis I am confident she will make a full recovery.
She’s been asking for you.
I’ve added you, Rose and Hugo to the visitor list. If you’d like to visit alone feel free to drop them by the manor and take our Floo to the hospital from here. Scorp would be delighted for their company, he’d told me as much.
Rose must have made an impression on him at Hogwarts. Who would have thought I’d have a Hufflepuff for a son? Certainly not my father. You can practically feel him cursing from his grave.
Speaking of my son, you have the heir of the Malfoy line to blame for my knowledge of the RSPCA. He begged me and my mother for weeks to visit a muggle zoo when he was eight.
It was the first interest he had after Story died. Sloths. Not snakes, not scorpions.
I’d even stretch to hoping for tarantulas.
But alas, my miniature me had a sloth obsession, which, after a haunting experience in Muggle London Zoo—whereby he realised all the animals were forced into cages—developed into a conservation obsession. This then led to him researching all worthy U.K. animal rights causes and requesting a portion of his inheritance be released yearly to support his philanthropic wildlife pursuits.
I think you two would get along swimmingly.
Hope to see you soon.
Yours,
Draco
P.S. Your previous letter was ambiguous. Which door would you take? If, indeed, both doors were open?
August 1st 2018
Dear Draco,
Thank you again for letting the children explore your manor while we visited with your mother. I hope they weren’t too much trouble for Poppy and Kip? Hugo keeps asking when our home will grow to be as big as yours, and Rose has now made peacocks her entire personality.
Do you know how hard it is to find peacock-decorated bed sheets? Nevermind white ones! In the end I had to transfigure something up.
I’m not sure Ronald will be best pleased with either of the above upon his return from The Alps.
I believe you are right to be concerned about your mother’s health, even if your bedside manner could do with some work. Did you really need to threaten the healer like that?
I’ve consulted with the leading public health representatives at MACUSA, Scopatore and the Indian Council of Magic. They indicate that this could be a resurgence of a malignant dark magic curse, caused by prolonged dark magic exposure, likely from sustaining torture curses such as Crucio. The curse may have lingered in her system and metastasized.
I have already taken it upon myself to consult Bill Weasley. As you know he’s quite an accomplished curse breaker. His predominant focus is cursed objects, however he might have some insights to share.
I will keep searching for relevant contacts and send any your way.
Yours,
Hermione
P.S. With everything going on I have completely lost track of the article, who has the latest revision?
P.P.S. In some semi-good news have you seen the preliminary polls? I think that Witch Weekly article brought over a few purebloods. Apparently you're not the only one who appreciates a muggle-born in a pencil skirt.
August 10th 2018
Dear Draco,
I am so sorry. My heart is truly broken for you. I came to the Manor but your house-elves informed me that you weren’t expected back today.
I am leaving this letter with them.
Over the years, your mother and I kept in touch, as I’m sure she made you aware. She was a breathtaking woman and one of the first purebloods to accept me, after you. At any opportunity, she would choose to speak highly of you, praise your achievements and attempt to set the record straight. She loved you fiercely and loyally.
To be honest, at times the relationship was a tough one to maintain, especially when Astoria grew sick.
I am so sorry that I did not write then, and again upon her passing. I didn’t think my words would be comforting…
I did try.
If there is anything I can do, please let me know. Perhaps Rose, Hugo, and I could show Scorpius around the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures one day this week, and give you some time for whatever needs planning?
Or just some alone time to grieve.
It’s totally different of course, but during my divorce, just some hours of silence allowed me to wrap my head around it all.
Yours,
Hermione
P.S. Don’t concern yourself with The Prophet article for now. I can rework the draft for your approval when the deadline gets closer, if that will make things easier.
August 20th 2018
Hermione,
It was great to have you by my side at the funeral, I am sorry if I appeared distant.
Thank you for your kind words at the open eulogy. Though she was unable to use her own words in the end, I would imagine that if she had had the ability she would have asked for you to speak for her.
You know, it broke her heart when she found out about your parents. She couldn’t let it go for months. Much to Astoria's dismay, she would even bring it up at family dinners.
“Isn’t there anything we can do?”
“What was that magi-neurologist's name in Athens?”
“Has Hermione consulted with any of the Unspeakables in the Department of Mysteries?”
Of course my response to all of these questions was that I didn’t know.
I think that my mother, secretly, was hoping we would rekindle something infidelious.
She loved you like a daughter, I doubt she ever said so much to you. But she did. Never quite did forgive my father for the blood he let to the marriage pact between myself and Astoria.
Yours,
Draco
25th August 2018
Hermione,
Scorp cannot stop talking about the tour of the creature department, and has been writing Rose every evening for the past week on one of those new eye-fony devices. I have had to confiscate it during mealtimes otherwise I can hardly summon a word out of him.
Is it the same with Rose?
They are only twelve. I, myself, cannot remember a time in my life having this much to say to anyone. And certainly not at their age. Though perhaps if you had one we could give them a run for their money.
It’s only a few days until he and Rose leave for Hogwarts for their second year. Surely he can delay his communication until then? Can he not give his poor father, who he won't see until Christmas I should add, a moment of his time?
Will you be on the platform?
Maybe we could get a coffee… discuss this article, your current campaign strategy and the joys of parenting pre-teens?
Yours,
Draco
26th August 2018
Dear Draco,
I wish I could, however I will already be pressed for time. I need to take a ministry-authorised portkey directly from the platform to an international ambassador summit with the magical nations—
30th August 2018
Dear Draco,
Please accept my apologies for my last letter being cut so short, I was in the middle of my candidacy manifesto and lost track of ongoing missives. I only came to realise now, while wondering when your reply might arrive, that my last correspondence hardly left much open by way of response.
I shall be on the platform and have managed to delay my summit segment by 30 minutes, should you still like to meet for a coffee.
Ron’s finally back and so Hugo will be with him for the day, so it will just be me.
Yours,
Hermione
2nd September 2018
Dear Draco,
I’m sorry I couldn’t stay for a coffee in the end. Hugo was having a hard time being left with his father after he’s been away for so long, and in the end I needed to go back for him and take him with me to the summit.
I had hoped divorce would lead to more freedom, but after all these years I’ve now resigned myself to always being the lead parent.
Is it terrible of me to desire it otherwise?
Would I wish that they preferred the company of their father if it allowed me to achieve my goals and dreams? No. I just crave so much more, for them and for me. It’s so hard to do it all alone.
I wish I had been able to get my parents back.
I apologise for this self-indulgent letter. Especially while you are still in the trenches of grief.
I’ll do my best to pop by soon, however I have the first round of votes next week, which will bring the Minister race down to three candidates, making my free time incredibly limited.
I wish I could Geminio myself sometimes. Oh Godric, who am I kidding? All the time.
Love,
Hermione
10th September 2018
Hermione,
Was that a typo or do you just LOVE to write to me?
Love,
Draco
17th September 2018
Draco,
I might have accidentally picked up a Quick Quotes Quill. You know how much artistic licence they like to employ.
How have you been doing? It’s hard to believe that throughout these three months of contact we’ve only seen each other a handful of times, and even those not under the best circumstances.
I worry about you. In my moments of calm at the end of the day. Crookshanks purring away on my lap.
Maybe when things have calmed down we can meet for that drink?
Yours,
Granger
17th September 2018
You aren’t telling me that the demon is still alive?! Kind of wish it was me in your lap. Your hands running through my hair.
… You never told me which door you’d take.
Draco
17th September 2018
Door? Can’t say I recall any door. I haven’t the foggiest clue what you’re talking about.
Alive and still as wild as ever! One would think he’d been drinking unicorn blood. I can’t see any signs of deterioration yet, must be his kneazle side kicking in.
Goodnight Draco, hugs from here.
30th September 2018
Malfoy,
I am completely beside myself, but why at all should I be shocked?
I was just accosted during my private hours by our mutual associate, Percy Weasley.
As you quite rightly know, he is my closest running mate for the election. Tensions are already fraught between myself and my Weasley ex-in-laws as a result of this.
He had some choice words to say about you.
If it gets out that you have been coercing or bribing influential constituents, to get my candidacy votes upped, I could lose this election on allegations of tampering!
Do you know that you cost me my whole life’s work?
Are you trying to ruin me? Again?!
You stole one dream for me, now you’ve come back to take another.
I knew this was a bad idea. I knew you could never be trusted.
When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time. I read that in a muggle book once.
Fuck you Malfoy, and stay out of my business.
Granger.
P.S. I will be writing to the Senior Editor of The Daily Prophet again to have the piece re-assigned. Given the clear conflict of interest I would prefer to keep as much distance between us as possible, especially with the election this November.
6th October 2018
Dear Hermione,
This is your sister writing, remember me?! Please respond to my owls! I’ve now had to resort to sending this through your secretary to make sure it gets on your desk. The next one will be a Howler.
Me, Harry, the rest of the boys and Mum all want you to know that we’re on your side. Percy is an utter twat, he just said those things at dinner to get under your skin.
He wants this for the family so bad… You can understand that right?
I don’t think he would really go public with his conspiracies. And that’s what they are, Hermione. Conspiracies from a bitter man with a chip on his shoulder. He just hates the thought of you getting a leg-up, and thinks that's why nobody is voting for him.
And honestly, if you ask me, I think Malfoy is smarter than overtly bribing people… do you not think he'd be more subtle if that was the case?
You’ve seemed more yourself than you have in years since getting back in touch with him. I’ve seen you light up like you would when you first started seeing him. Even Harry said so, and you know what he used to think of him.
I know he totally ripped your heart out, before Ron tried putting it together with spello-tape, but people do change and grow. I think you should hear him out before jumping to conclusions based on the ramblings of a man who had to resort to paying his way onto a centre page spread.
You’ve got our support and you’ve got our vote.
Love, Gin.
29th October 2018
Dear Senior Undersecretary Granger,
Thank you for your dedication to the ‘Greatest Philanthropist of Our Age’ piece for the 275th Grand Anniversary Edition of The Daily Prophet.
Mr. Malfoy has taken the liberty of sending his draft to our offices and, despite your insistence that the article would need to be handled by another party, my superiors have ordained that Mr. Malfoy’s version be published.
Unfortunately, due to the deadline already passing us by, without a suitable revision found, I was ineffective with my reasoning to the contrary.
Please find the draft print accompanying this owl.
Warmest regards,
Cho Thomas, Society Editor
The Daily Prophet
P.S. Please don’t hex the messenger, I quite like my complexion the way it is.
THE DAILY PROPHET
AN OPEN LETTER FROM THE GREATEST PHILANTHROPIST OF OUR AGE, DRACO MALFOY
Dear Readers,
It is no secret that the family I grew up in was marred with darkness. People have judged me my whole life, and rightly so. My family were not good, not kind, not brave. They were clever, and strategic and cunning.
They did whatever it took to maintain the status quo of our society, and to remain at its peak.
In the last decade, your hearts have softened to the boy who almost killed Albus Dumbledore. You read the many biopics of my life, followed the Witch Weekly gossip articles, and celebrated my many financial collaborations and business successes throughout the years.
You accepted me back in, and I will be forever grateful for the second chance you gave me.
Many months ago, I was presented with the opportunity to write about my philanthropic pursuits from the past two decades for this 275th Grand Anniversary Edition, as a way of highlighting my own achievements.
However, since I turned twenty and fell in love with a witch so far out of my realm of suitable partners, my gold has only ever followed one direction. It would be a great lie to take the moniker of ‘Greatest Philanthropist of Our Age’, when, had it not been for this witch—a witch many of you foolishly continue to think is not right to serve our community—my money would have still been sat in Gringotts bank earning a sizable interest.
I am writing, of course, about Hermione Granger.
When I overheard her dismay three years ago, that the Holyhead Harpies hadn’t won a game in ten years—and the toll it was taking on my favourite Potter née Weasley—I ordered a batch of Nimbus 3000 brooms to the stadium. In my need for her approval, I received a standing ovation at the cup final, a cask of the finest pure malt scotch, and an exasperated glare from Ms. Granger from the ministry box.
At the birth of my son, I wandered around the halls with him in my arms, while my late wife was taking a rest. Ms. Granger’s astute tones called out to me even then. She was in the Janus Thickey ward, once lovingly referred to as the Anus Hickey ward owing to the sign’s utter disrepair. The sign was just the beginning.
Ms. Granger was quite right in her astonishment over the lack of care given to both the patients and the furnishings. She was told by a member on the board that there was no funding and no one to oversee the work.
It crossed my mind in that conversation, that no one would ever speak to me in such a manner. Now, that might be because I have money, I come from a well-known family, or more likely because I am pureblood. It was not right, and it still is not.
The next week I bought my way onto the board and enacted the list of demands Ms. Granger set out and also added a hydrotherapy swimming pool for good measure. I followed her bravery to stand up for what is right.
Sat in a muggle coffee shop as young adults, Ms. Granger told me of a dream of hers; a dream where young muggle-born children and their families are welcomed into our community with open arms. This would start from their first visit from a Hogwarts representative, and what would follow would be a thoughtful and comprehensive guide, school open day, family-integration sessions and more.
Hard to think, now that we are so accustomed to this practice at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, of a time this didn’t happen. So popular the program became that it was soon the standard for all magic schools worldwide.
Ms. Granger had the dream, all I did was follow her direction.
Now, all of us stand with open doors in front of us, one leads to the same road we have always been down, the other holds a path to a better, brighter future under her direction.
When you vote over the weekend for the next leader of our magical community, remember to follow the direction of the woman who is good and kind and brave.
She has been working tirelessly to improve our world from the moment she was thrust into it.
Trust her.
November 10th 2018
Dear Mr. Malfoy,
Draco,
You stupid, foolhardy, heavy-handed toff,
To the love of my life.
Aghhhh, where's that damn letter writing set?
{End of voice transcription}
November 15th 2018
Draco,
How about that glass of wine?
Love,
Hermione Granger
Minister for Magic
Order of Merlin, 1st Class