A/N: Hey everyone! Hope you guys liked the last chapter. So, Adam gave Hermione's file to Draco. What do you think of that? Will Draco get his answers soon because he has the file now? I think he will get the answers soon. Read the A/N at the end to find out when the next chapter will be out. On with the chapter! 

A Few days later...

"You didn't tell me about your date." Draco said. 

Hermione, who was reading a file, looked at him for a second and shook her head. "I did. I told you that it was good but that it didn't beat our accidental date. Remember?" 

"No." When she raised her eyebrows at him, he added, "Wait, I meant that I do remember. But I wasn't talking about how your date went in the first place. I was talking about the person with whom you were on a date. You still haven't told me about him." 

She looked back at the file. "Why do you even want to know about him?" 

"Because." He smirked at her.

"Draco-" 

"Oh come on, Granger." He stood up, walked towards her desk and sat down in the chair in front of it. "After all, I did tell you about my date with Astoria, didn't I?" 

You say it like I requested you to tell me, Hermione thought and mentally rolled her eyes. "If you are forgetting, I was the one who recommended you that restaurant when you were asking everyone." 

"Potato Potahto, Granger." Draco smirked at her. 

Hermione gasped and immediately stood up. She walked towards him, and patted his back. "Congratulations." 

"For what?" 

"This is the first time you have said a Muggle thing correctly." She grinned at him. "I am so proud of you, Draco." She wiped her non existing tears from her face.

He scowled at her. "Did I mention that I hate you? Because, believe me, I really do. Specially right now." 

"I love you too." She grinned even more widely, if that was possible, and returned back to her seat. 

Draco rolled his eyes. "Who do I even bother with you? Sometimes I wonder if someone had threaten me to become your best friend, because there is no way I would have done it." 

"Good to know that I mean so much to you." She said. "You are truly a pleasant company, Draco. No wonder they praise you so much in Witch Weekly." 

"You read about me in that stupid magazine?" He asked, but without giving her a chance to answer, he added, "Don't think that I didn't realise the change in subject. So, how did you meet your date? That James guy?" 

"It's not James, Draco. His name is Daniel Jones." 

Draco just looked at her and crossed his arms in front of him, as if to say, "Do I look like someone who gives a bloody care about your date's name?" 

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Anyways, I met him here, in the Ministry. He works in the Department of International Magical Cooperation. Remember the day you refused to go to lunch with me? That's the day I met him." 

He mentally cursed himself. If it hadn't been for him, Hermione would not have met that James guy. 

Right, Jones guy. 

"I was eating lunch alone in the Ministry break room, when he just came and sat down next to me, saying that it was the only seat left. Of course, he said that he could move if I was uncomfortable, but it was fine. So, we spent an hour just talking about simple stuff, and when I was about to come back here, he said that it was nice meeting me and talking as well." 

She continued, "Next day, I went to my favorite bookshop after work, and guess what? I found him reading my favorite book, which was also the book I wanted to buy, since Harry destroyed my copy and it couldn't be repaired. Anyways, it was the only copy left there, the one he was reading. And it wasn't available in any other shop for at least three months, it is a really rare book. And when he got to know that I wanted to buy it as well, he gave it to me. Obviously, I declined, but he just went to the counter, paid for it, and then gave it to me, without even a second thought. I actually felt bad because he really wanted to buy it, so I told him that he could borrow it from me whenever he wanted to read it. Then, he asked me if I could tell my opinion on the book, and when I agreed, we went to a nearby cafe, and spent hours talking about books, and a few Ministry things as well. Oh, and he told me that he heard about S.P.E.W and that it was a good idea, and supported it." 

"We started eating lunch together in the break room from then on, and when I was about to leave, he asked me if I would go on a date with him. Before I could even answer, he said we could just go as friends or even that I could say no and he wouldn't mind. But, he actually seemed really nice, and a friendly person, so I agreed to go on a date with him." Hermione finished. 

"That's it?" 

"What do you mean that's it? I just told you how I met Daniel, and all you have to say is that's it?" She asked him. 

"What do you want me to say? You agreed to go on a date with someone you met in a break room and then in a bookshop? Are you serious?" 

Hermione shrugged. "We have similar interests."

Draco scoffed. Ways to impress Granger: 

1. Talk about books everytime. 

2. Support that rubbish spew. 

And that's it. You have successfully impressed her. 

"What is with the attitude, Draco?" She glared at him. "Aren't you happy for me? You were the one who wanted to know about him, and when I told you, instead of saying something nice, you are being your old, and mean self." 

He sighed. "Look, I am sorry, Granger. It's just that... You are my best friend, and I don't want you to get hurt. You know how much you mean to me." 

She smiled softly at him. "I understand, Draco. But trust me, please." She placed her hand on his, and squeezed it. "I can look out for myself. I know you just want to protect me, but I can do that too. Though I appreciate it nonetheless." 

He squeezed her hand back. "So, when I do get to give him the best friend talk?" 

She raised her eyebrows at him. "The what?" 

"Oh you know, 'you hurt my best friend, and I will kill you and I don't care if I go to Azkaban' talk." He smirked at her. "Do you think Potter will join me in that?" 

Hermione shook her head and laughed. "I knew it. I knew you really liked Harry's company, despite whatever you would say. I still can't believe you two become friends. That too, best friends." 

"I still can't believe I accepted his handshake when he rejected mine in the first place." Draco rolled his eyes. 

----------

A Few hours later...

Draco was sitting in his chair, staring at the file in front of him. 

He still couldn't believe he had Hermione's criminal record file in his hands. 

Speaking of the witch, she had just gone to Harry's office to give him the report, giving Draco time to think about the file he would carry everywhere ever since he received it. 

It wasn't that he wanted to look at it everytime, he really didn't. But, he was afraid that if he left it at home, either Astoria or his mother would find it, and most probably, tell Hermione about the file. 

He didn't want his wife or his mother to have doubts about Hermione. To think that she wasn't a good person. Because he knew she was, and she would never do anything wrong, at least not intentionally. 

Even worse, if someone else saw the file, he had no doubt that he or she would tell the whole Wizarding World about it. And the last thing he wanted was Rita Skeeter writing an article about her and the 'crimes' she committed.

He knew there was still bad blood between the annoying reporter, or the beetle, and the Brightest Witch of Her Age. 

Hermione would definitely hate him if she got to know that he was the reason the whole world knew what she had done, and Draco didn't want that at all. 

He also had to cast a Disillusionment charm on the file to prevent Hermione from seeing it. Because he knew she would not ask for his permission to look through his briefcase for an important file or report, he knew how she acted while working on a case. He was still looking at that file when he thought about the day he was given the 'classified' file by Unspeakable Adam.

Flashback

"I-is it really her file?" Draco stuttered. 

Adam nodded. "I myself brought it from the Criminal Records room to here. And no, there is no copy of it." 

"But why are you giving this to me? As I clearly recall, you were the one who stopped me from looking at the file in the first place. And told me that Granger would tell me, but I have to give it time." 

He sighed. "Look, if it were up to me, I still wouldn't have given you this file. But, it is for her sake that I am giving it to you." 

Draco furrowed his eyebrows. "What do you mean? You told me not tell anyone about this, and yet you are saying that it is for her sake. I don't understand." 

"Did you know that the employees who work in the Australian Ministry of Magic are required to have a criminal records file, and not anyone else?" 

"Of course, I do." He nodded. 

"Well Hermione worked in the Australian Ministry, so she had a file. I am not saying that the file would be destroyed afterwards, I don't know. Maybe Kingsley can-" 

"Woah woah woah, just wait a moment." Draco narrowed his eyes at him. "Why will it be destroyed? And what does Kingsley have to do with this?"

"Well since Hermione won't be working in the Australian Ministry of Magic now, I mean, after the programme ends, there isn't any need for her file to be there. So it can be destroyed." 

His eyes widened. "Are you seriously saying to the truth? She won't be working again there? But she didn't tell me anything about that. And-wait, how do you know that she won't work there any more?" 

"I have a feeling that she would not work there any more." Adam smiled. Well, of course he had a feeling, and also, he knew that she won't work there any more, because the Gryffindor Princess had herself told him that. 

Okay well she didn't tell him that directly. 

But he knew how much she was missing England, and her friends when she was in Australia, but at the same time, she couldn't muster up the courage to go there, not after everything that had happened. 

As if on cue, they were informed about the Auror program. Though hesitating at first, Hermione eventually joined it, and she had no choice but to return to England. She had told him that if anything happened, or if she wasn't able to do her work without thinking about what had happened, she would straight away come back to Australia, not caring about the programme or the Ministry rules. 

He knew her opinion had changed as soon as she had arrived there. She had told him that much when she had come to Australia for a couple of days. Hermione had told him that she might tell Draco what had really happened before she left the country, she owed him that much. 

Even if she would not tell him, Adam knew she won't be coming back to Australia. Not after seeing them again, which she would obviously miss if she left again. Also, he knew that her friends, specially Draco, will not let her do that. Not again. They won't let her go. 

"Okay..." Draco said, though his tone implied that he still didn't believe him completely. "And what about Kingsley? Does he know about the file?" 

"Of course he does." He nodded. "He was the Minister of Magic when she left, wasn't he? And he is still the Minister. How come he would not know about that?" 

"Well I thought that since nobody here knew about her file or why she left, and also because there was no criminal record file of hers. I mean, if Kingsley knew, then a file was bound to be there wasn't it? Even if we don't have a criminal records room like that, if the Minister knows about the crimes, there has to be a file. And there was no gossips about that either." 

Adam sighed. "I cannot tell you much about that. You will have to ask Hermione. But what I can tell you is that, Kingsley is one of those few people who know why she left, and have seen her file. He had known that even before she started working in the Australian Ministry of Magic. Hermione is his good friend, so of course he wouldn't betray his trust and tell anyone else." 

Draco was still thinking about that when the Unspeakable stood up. "When Hermione tells you about what you want to know, give this file to Kingsley. I will send him a letter and he will know what to do. Until then, don't tell about this file to anyone." 

He followed his actions and picked up the file. "I will do that. But why can't you give this to Kingsley?" 

"Extremely curious, aren't you, young man? Want to know everything?" Adam shook his head. "You will get your answers soon. Though how much soon, I cannot tell that. Now if you don't mind, I will like to go back to Australia since I am very busy." 

"If I didn't know any better, Unspeakable Adam, I would think you are throwing me out of your house because you don't like me." Draco smirked at him. 

He laughed. "Got it right, didn't you? I knew you were a smart person. And well, I don't know whether or not you are a patient person as well, but I hope in this case, you will be." 

Draco turned away from him. Before he could dissapparate, Adam said, "Oh and Malfoy, you cannot open the file until Hermione tells you what she did." 

Flashback over

Well to sum it up, it didn't matter whether or not Draco had the file. He still would have to wait for her to tell him. 

And he hoped she would tell him soon. Really soon. 

After all, he wasn't known for his patience, was he? 

------------ 

"Whom should I give it to?" Hermione asked him. 

Draco looked at the file. "I think the DIMC would like to take a look at it. It affects their department, and I think they will be able to help us solve this faster." 

She nodded. "Okay. I will take it to the DIMC then." She picked up the file and stood up from her chair. Before she could walk away, he grasped her wrist. 

"Wait!" He said. "I think I can take the file there." 

"Why do you want to do that? Last I checked, you always hated going from one department to another, just to give them a file." 

"Well... People change. I change." He said. When she stared at him, he added, "Okay well, I am seriously getting bored here. I will go the DIMC, then maybe to the break room, get scones and then take a walk or something. You are welcome to join me, if you want to. But, you will stay here and finish writing this report until I come back. I do not want Robards to think that we were just having fun and not doing work." 

She nodded and gave him the file. He took one last look at her, and then left their office. 

As soon as she mentioned DIMC, he hadn't thought twice before saying that he could take the file there. He was himself planning to go there soon, maybe just before work hours ended.

Maybe he would get the change to give that Jones guy his 'best friend' talk. Oh well, that's the first time he got his name right. 

He would also ask about his intentions towards Hermione, and give him a few threats as well, in case he hurt her. 

Maybe he would also get Jones' background check. 

Lost in his thoughts, Draco bumped into someone. When he looked up, he saw it was one of the employees of the Department of International Magical Cooperation. 

"Sorry." He said. "I wasn't looking and well... Anyways, do you know where I can find Thomas Smith here? I want to give him this file." 

The person nodded. "I am Thomas Smith. And is this the file about the recent case you Aurors were given?" 

 Draco nodded. "Here it is. You can take a look at it, and maybe even at the records of your travels and then make a list of it, and give it to us afterwards?" 

"Sure, I will do that. Thanks for this." Thomas smiled at him and turned away. 

"Hey, wait." Draco stopped him. "Do you know where is Jones right now? Daniel Jones, I mean. I have to talk to him." 

"Who?" 

"Daniel Jones. He works here in the DIMC." 

"Sorry, there is no Daniel Jones here. You must be mistaken." Before Draco could say something, Thomas added, "I really need to go now. See you later." 

Draco watched him walk away with a frown on his face. How could Daniel Jones not work here? Hermione had told him he did. 

Maybe he got the name wrong.

He nodded and went to the break room. He definitely got the name wrong. There was no way Hermione was lying to him. 

-------

"What movie do you want to watch?" Draco asked her as he sat down next to her on the couch, and took the bowl of popcorn from her. 

"Maybe Toy Story 3?" She smirked at him. "Oh but we will need to get tissues for that. You know, since you cry everytime we watch it with Teddy." 

Draco glared at her. "I did not cry. I never cried because of that stupid movie. And don't you dare tell anyone otherwise." 

She laughed and shook her head. "We have seen it four times, and the idiot denies even if he cried all four times."

His glare intensified. "If you don't shut up, I will hex you, maybe even use Potterette's Bat Bogey hex. And not have one single regret."

"Empty threats, Draco. Empty threats." She waved her hand in air. "Anyways, when is Astoria coming back?" 

"Considering her sister, Daphne, will go to France soon, I think she will like to spend a few days with her. She went to her house yesterday, but she will come back later today to pick up a few things. Daphne said that I could come there as well, and her husband is actually my close friend, but I still haven't given it much thought. Maybe I will go there tomorrow or the day after." 

She nodded. "Okay. So, which movie should we watch?" When he simply shrugged in reply, she added, "Well how about-" 

But before she could complete her sentence, they heard a Tap Tap Tap on her window. She stood up and opened it, allowing the owl to enter and give her the letter. 

At first, she smiled as she saw who it was from. But towards the end, her brows furrowed and she walked back towards her best friend. 

"Who is it from?" He asked her. 

"Daniel. Remember my date?" 

He nodded and took the letter from her. He looked confused as he finished reading it. Before se could ask him anything, he re read it. 

Dear Hermione

Hope you are well. I know this may sound absurd to you, but I seriously miss you and your talks right now. We did agree to meet tomorrow, but can we do that today as well? 

There is this new cafe in Diagon Alley, and they even have a small library. I have heard that it is very good.

What do you say? Will you go on a date with me? 

I hope you will say yes. And if you really do, send me your reply soon so I can book our seats there. Also, I know we have to discuss whether or not to make this public, and we can do that today. Until then, please don't tell anyone. We don't want Skeeter to publish anything now, do we? 

Yours 

Daniel

"You didn't tell him that you have told me and Potter about your date?" Draco asked as he gave her the letter back. 

She shook her head and accioed a parchment and quill to write a reply. "He doesn't like fame he and popularity much. And you know how the reporters are, they will just start rumours. But Daniel said that he didn't want to tell anyone until we become official and he would like to tell his parents first. He just said that to me today, before I came to our office. I didn't know he would want to discuss it again after just a few hours." 

Draco stared at her as she wrote the reply, tied it to the owl's leg and closed the window once it flew away. "His name is Daniel Jones, right? And he works in the DIMC?" 

"Yeah." She nodded. "Why? Did you forget?" 

He shook his head. "No. Just...making sure. Anyways, are you going with him?" 

Again, she nodded. "I really want to check out that new cafe. And as I said, I like talking to him. Maybe we will make it official today." 

A few minutes later, the owl came back with his letter. Daniel told her to get ready in fifteen minutes as he had booked their seats for seven o'clock. 

Draco thought about what Thomas had told him as Hermione went to her room to get ready. He said that there was no Daniel Jones there. He didn't think that he was lying.

Hermione wasn't lying either. Then why did Thomas say that? Was he really lying and Draco didn't think that? Or is this Jones guy lying to her? 

Before he could think much about it, Hermione came back to the living room. "I am sorry, Draco. Maybe we will watch a movie some other time. I am really sorry."

He smiled at her and stood up. Reaching into his pocket, he took out something. "No worries. Anyways, here it is. Fully cleaned." 

Hermione grinned and took the bracelet from him. The bracelet he had given to her on Christmas during their eighth year. Yesterday, she had accidentally spiller juice on it, and since it was goblin made, only goblins can use magic to clean it. Thus, he had took it from her, promising that she would get the bracelet the next day. 

After she thanked him, he said, "I know you said that you can look out for yourself, but you know me. I will never stop worrying about you, and I haven't met this Jones guy, so I don't trust him." 

He placed a hand on her wrist, on top of the bracelet, he continued, "Remember what I told you when I gave it to you? You just have to twist this little diamond, and it will send a message to my wand. Telling me where you are, and I will immediately come there. Please use this in case something happens." 

She smiled and hugged him tightly. "I know, Draco. And don't worry. I don't think I will have to use this. So you can just sit and relax and do whatever you want."

Oh if only she knew how wrong she was. 

-----------

"Hello Hermione." Daniel greeted her with a kiss on her cheek. If she was being honest, he looked really good in the Muggle suit he was wearing.

"Daniel." She smiled at him. "So, I have to admit I was surprised to see your letter. But it was definitely a nice surprise."

"Really? Well let's see if your opinion will change in the end." He smiled back at her. She didn't pay much attention to his statement, thinking that he simply meant she would say it was a very nice or a great surprise. 

"Let's go, shall we?" He offered his arm to her. She placed her hand in his, and was about to take a step towards the restaurant, she felt a familiar lurch as the restaurant in front of her vanished. 

Before she could even focus on something, they arrived in an unfamiliar place, someone cast Stupefy on her. 

She was placed in a chair, and a person cast Incarcerous on her, before using the counter spell of Stupefy on her. 

"Still think it's a nice surprise?" Daniel stood in front of her and smirked. 

"You?!" Hermione's eyes widened. "What do you want, Daniel?" 

"Uh huh, it's not Daniel, love." He laughed at her. "The name is Roger. Carl Roger. Ring any bells?" 

Hermione was about to say something, when her jaw dropped. Roger? Was he really-? "R-roger... You... Are you his-?" 

"Yes." He nodded. "I am. And I finally found you, Granger. After five years, I finally found you. You thought running away will save you? No, Granger. You will get what you deserve." 

"C-carl... Look, I-I never wanted to do that. Please believe me. It was j-just a misunderstanding. Please-" 

"Shut up, Granger." He snarled and pointed his wand at her. "Crucio!" 

---------

Draco was peacefully reading his book when he felt his wand vibrating. At first, he didn't think much about it, but when it vibrated again, he knew she was in danger. 

Quickly standing up, he picked up his wand and dissapparated on the spot, without thinking twice. 

Looking back, he knew he should have called Harry or any other Auror first. 

He would of course, regret not doing that when he would think about that in the future. But at that moment, it didn't matter to him. 

Protecting the ones who mattered to him the most would always be his priority, and his best friend was of course one of those. He wasn't lying when he said he would never stop worrying about Hermione. 

He was worried even when he said, "I think it's time you tell me what you really did all those years ago, Hermione." Yes, it was one of those rare times he called her by her first name. 

He was worried even when she buried her head in his chest and sobbed. "I-I killed someone, Draco." 

A/N: That's it for this chapter. It was 4400+ words. Hope you guys liked it. I apologise if the chapter was weird, I was really busy this week. Anyways, it ended with a cliffhanger. So... Did you guys expect it? Or did you guys thought I wouldn't reveal it in this chapter, or anytime soon? Random question: In which movie does Draco have the best hairstyle according to you? Answer in the comments below. Vote, comment and please share my story. Reviews are always appreciated. Thank you! 

Next chapter on 27/9/20(Sunday). 

Until next time.